Online temporary resources in French

During this time of confinement, thousands of initiatives are popping up on the Internet to entertain us from home. Find in this article a list of cultural resources available temporarily, to carry on enjoying French and Francophone culture this weekend! This article especially features opera, dance and film resources. 

Until April, 27th

“My French Film Festival” 

This short film festival launched its “Stay Home edition” and broadcasts more than 70 French short movies from its past 10 editions. This is an amazing platform where the movies are available for free until April 27th. Find a lot of different genres, for both adults and children, subtitled in many languages. 

https://www.myfrenchfilmfestival.com/en/

Until May, 21st

“Cendrillon” (ballet)

The Paris Opera website features regular reruns of major works that were performed there. Between April 18th and May 21st, watch the ballet “Cendrillon” (“Cinderella”). This ballet by Rudolf Noureev was performed between November 2018 and January 2019 at the Opéra Bastille, Paris. The show lasts 2 hours and the video is available in the US. However, a lot of other videos broadcast on this platform are not.

https://www.operadeparis.fr/magazine/cendrillon-replay

On April 27th, find the next rerun: the opera for adults “Carmen”

Until June

Comic opera for children

Two comic operas aimed at children 6 years and older are available for free on Opéra comique’s website. 

• “La Princesse légère”, by Violeta Cruz
  

The video lasts 1 hour 30 min and was created in 2017. The play is divided into two parts, and it is inspired by a tale from the British writer George Macdonald. It is about a princess who was condemned by a witch to be always “light”, both physically and mentally, which means she is ignorant about important topics. This is a fun opera that explores the way children face important issues. The video is available until May, 31st.

https://www.opera-comique.com/fr/saisons/saison-2020/princesse-legere-replay

• “Le mystère de l'écureuil bleu”, by Marc-Olivier Dupin and Ivan Grinberg
  

This is a mix between a mystery for children and a discovery of lyrical art. This opera was created on the Internet and then shot in 2016. It lasts 1 hour 30, and it is available until June, 15th. This is the story of a comic opera theatre where the lead singer’s blue squirrel is found murdered.  

https://www.opera-comique.com/fr/saisons/saison-2020/mystere-l-ecureuil-bleu-replay

Every Wednesday: movies

“MK2 Curiosity”

This is an initiative from MK2, a French film distributor, and Trois Couleurs, a film magazine, aimed at curious people. Every Wednesday, they release several free movies that they consider “hidden treasures, rare and bizarre movies”, though important in international film history. Most of the time the movies are in French, without subtitles. However you can sometimes find movies in English or with French subtitles. 

This week, the 5 movies available talk about freedom, identity and revolution:

• “Sur la Route”, Walter Salles, 2012
  

This 2-hour movie is an adaptation of the novel “On the Road” written by Jack Kerouac. It is in English, with French subtitles. 

• “Black Panthers”, Agnès Varda, 1968
  

This is a 28-minute documentary in French, shot during the trial of one of the Black Panther’s leaders. It is dedicated to their Movement. 

• “Plein Sud”, by Sébastien Lifshitz, 2009
  

This movie about a group of friends lasts 1 hour 30 min. Its main topic is body freedom. 

• “Sydney, l’autre Chaplin”, by Éric Lange and Serge Bromberg, 2017
  

This documentary in French about Charlie Chaplin’s brother lasts 55 minutes. 

• “Commentaires de Fanny Ardant et Gérard Depardieu sur quelques scènes de “La Femme d’à côté” de François Truffaut”
  

These two actors comment on François Truffaut’s movie. The video lasts 26 minutes. 

https://www.troiscouleurs.fr/curiosity-by-mk2/

Entertain yourself, and carry on enjoying French language! We hope that these resources will help children, adults, Francophones and Francophiles put up a bit more with the quarantine. 

Stay safe and take care,
See you soon!