Dear readers,
Your podcast host making it through the rest of this week.
Woof, indeed. It’s been a super stressful week for everyone, and next week isn’t looking too much better. Obviously most people are aware that Americans are busy doomscrolling themselves into oblivion until our eyes are just two Fivey cartoons. But I want my French listeners to know that I’m thinking of them too, as France reintroduces harsh lockdown measures and recovers from multiple terrorist attacks. It’s just a horrible, hard time for most of my listeners. So this month’s newsletter has one singleminded purpose: distraction. <3 I hope at least one of these links provides you with a little break, a little comfort, a little relaxation, so you can carry on.
P.S. Life is hard enough!!!! I am not going to watch Emily in Paris and nobody can make me!!!
Your host, ten minutes before writing this newsletter: soupe à la Vache qui rit, WINE, painting her nails watching Practical Magic the way she promised in this week’s episode.
First of all, I’m writing all of my readers a prescription for (1) batch of soup. While I’m saving some of my favorite heartier stews for later in the winter, this week I whipped up a batch of one of my favorite comfort foods, soupe à la Vache qui rit, a.k.a. “Laughing Cow” soup. It’s like the French equivalent of broccoli cheddar soup, but with zucchinis and the familiar supermarket favorite. The French say it’s for children, but dang it, I’m eating it with pride. The recipe is SUPER simple, very cheap to make, and perfect for days when your executive function is zero.
When I was living in Paris at age 19, my apartment was situated right on top of Pére- Lachaise cemetery, in the 20ème arrondissement. One of the loveliest nights of the year was Toussaint (“All Saints”), November 1st, when the city comes out to pay tribute to the dead. Standing on the apartment balcony, I could look down and see an endless sea of candles stretching throughout the enormous cemetery, with crowds walking around, saying prayers, singing songs, and remembering ancestors and beloved cultural icons. Whether you’ve had the chance to visit or not, here’s a lovely, romantic, and slightly ghoulish short film (from the anthology Paris, Je T’aime) filmed entirely within the cemetery grounds:
Can’t get enough of the Hundred Years War after this week’s episode? October 25th marked the 605th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. You could watch endless performances of Shakespeare’s Henry V…or you could watch the recent Netflix version, The King starring Le Timothée Chalamet and an absolutely giddy Robert Pattinson as Louis, Le Dauphin. There’s a 30% chance that my brain is replaying this scene at any given moment:
I HAVE A NAME. Good news, science is finally appreciating my unique gifts:
“Physarum polycephalum is known as a slime mold, but it is not in fact a fungus. It’s also not a plant. Or an animal.” (Smithsonian Magazine)
How on earth did I miss this the first time around? This week I fell into a wormhole learning about the case of Gérard Lhéritier, a.k.a. the French Bernie Madoff. Like Madoff, he created an enormous Ponzi scheme which defrauded thousands of investors and made him a rich, vaunted celebrities. Unlike Madoff, he reassured investors that their investments were safe and sound, and his collateral was a huge collection of - genuine - literary memorabilia. Letters from Voltaire, trips on the Orient Express, and a lottery ticket from the heavens - this story has it all. Since Lhéritier’s downfall, the enormous collection continues to enter European auction houses, putting all kinds of interesting treasures on the market for the first time in ages. My favorite so far? The only joint letter from Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, describing their recent trips to the brothels.
I know this one isn’t technically related to France or French history in any way, but one of the most important things helping me keep it together in 2020 has been Yoga with Adriene. She’s super beginner friendly (and kid friendly!) and it helps me a lot to hear someone with a kind voice telling me that I am doing a great job. It’s very difficult to doomscroll while doing a handstand. Also, I miss getting to hang out with dogs, so the constant presence of her extremely good boy, Benji, cheers me up. I’ve gotten a bunch of my friends hooked on her videos, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorites here:
Complete and total beginner? Start here:
I got hooked by starting with her 30 day series Home. When I started, there were a bunch of positions and movements I couldn’t do, but by the end of the series I had made a lot of progress. Stick with it!! Now I do yoga every single day. She releases a new playlist of free videos every month, and November has a lot of stress-relieving/calming routines. In the meantime, here’s an appropriate one for Halloween:
Want some spooky French thrills this weekend? Here are a few favorites, all available on streaming:
Les Diaboliques (Henri-Georges Clouzot) - My favorite!!! I know I recommend it every year, but it’s worth recommending every year. I just introduced my partner to this one a few weeks ago, and he loved it. Note: If you have a Criterion subscription, watch it on there instead - their subtitles are a bit better.
High Life (Claire Denis) - Oooh, this movie will NOT leave my brain, even when I wish it would. It’s grotesque, contains every bodily fluid imaginable, and definitely R-rated (and those with triggers should research before viewing) but it’s also thought-provoking and weirdly beautiful in its own way. (This is also the second arthouse movie starring Robert Pattinson that I’ve referenced in a single newsletter. What a world.)
Raw (Julia Ducournau) - It’s a movie about female desire and cannibalism. That description either thrills you or terrifies you.
Caillou’s Halloween - Could anything be more terrifying to parents everywhere?
Rebecca (Ben Wheatley) - Do I think this is going to be the best adaptation? No. Will I buy Armie Hammer in the role? Also, no. Was there any possibility that I would not watch Kristen Scott Thomas as Mrs. Danvers? Not a chance. It’s got lavish production values, a three-piece marigold suit, and my full attention.
Alright, lovelies, I hope that’s enough distraction for you. I’m going to do some text banking, finish a bottle of sauv blanc, and watch the new Rebecca. I’ll see you all on the other side. Until then:
Bisous,
Diana