Marion Cotillard was not a superstar when she landed the role of Edith Piaf in La Môme. But, already a formidable actress, she had an impressive set of roles under her belt, and the film’s director had no doubt she was “the one.” He was right: Marion took home the Oscar for best actress in 2008.

An interesting note: The USA release title for the film – in French, ironically enough – is La Vie en Rose, the name of a famous Piaf song, which basically means, “life through rose-colored glasses.” The French title comes from Piaf’s nickname: “La Môme Piaf,” which can be translated as “the little sparrow,” but also means “little kid Piaf.”

The “ch’ti” dialect and way of life of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France is the subject of the movie Bienvenue chez les ch’tis, number two on the all-time French box office list and the first French movie on the list. Actor-director Dany Boon knew just the right mix of ingredients to make it stick.

Singer-songwriter Phil Cambron talks about the “chanson vivante” scene in Montreal, his musical tastes and his ambitions.

Montpellier-based heavy metal group Peach FTL has been going strong since 1997. “L’Empreinte” comes from their first album, Addiction, released in 2005. They followed up Addiction with Supernova in 2007.

Meet troubadour Hugo Bonneville, a socially aware singer-songwriter whose love of words makes his lyrics pure poetry. Hugo shares with us what being a musician means to him.

Meet Jean-Phillipe Talbot, pizza man at Montréal’s F&F Pizza. F&F is a gourmet pizza shop, owned by the multi-talented company Rhinoceros, where Francophones and Anglophones alike can come to savor a slice (those who can afford it, that is).

Hugo Bonneville talks about the relationship between music and money, the success of his first album, and offers us all the sound advice to take a good long look at ourselves.

French-Canadian singer-songwriter Pascale—who prefers to introduce herself in verse rather than give the usual “hello my name is”—tells us of the importance of maintaining optimism and lightness in the face of hardship.

We hear a bit more from the lovely Pascale: on her beginnings in the musical world (she started early), her new album, and her music’s special combination of rhythm and soul.

Meet Pierre Carl and take a tour around his Montreal sports shop, called D’un sport à l’autre (which means “from one sport to another”). Bikes are the top-seller in summer, but you’ll see they have fun stuff for any season!

Come inside this fabulous restaurant and bar in Paris’s 19th arrondissement and see what the chef is preparing and the bartender is mixing. Just don’t watch this one on an empty stomach!

Need a tutorial on how to fix up a bike? Master mechanic Yassin from D’un sport à l’autre shows us just where to put the wrench.

The Butte Montmartre is a famous Parisian tourist hot spot, much of it filled with teeming crowds of camera-happy visitors. But if you take a look down some of the side streets and back alleys, you may be surprised by all the magnificent sights to be seen.

Just in case you haven’t already learned enough about fixing up bikes, Pierre Carl from “D’un sport à l’autre” gives us a handy little tutorial.

So what do the Fs of F&F Pizza stand for? Frais et Fabuleux—Fresh and Fabulous! Watch the magic unfold as Jean-Phillipe makes a “carbonara” pizza and a “hab’s” pizza. Just don’t watch on an empty stomach.