Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
French Canada is a cultural mosaic that is still exploring its identity. Some French Canadians feel more American than French, while others feel more of an allegiance to their French roots. Somehow, a Quebecois nation is emerging out of all this, but not without some growing pains.
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
In part 6 of Le Québec parle aux Français, the interviewees compare and contrast the immigrant situation in France and Quebec. France, being a smaller country, creates additional pressure for immigrants, while in Quebec, immigrants do rather well. Later, Olivier treats us to a little song he wrote himself.
Difficulty: Newbie
France
Joanna just moved into a new apartment, which is slightly bigger than her old one, and she invited us inside to show us around. She uses some essential household-related vocabulary in her tour, so keep your eyes open for any words you don't already know!
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
In part seven of this series on Quebec, Olivier focuses on something that is dear to the hearts of many Québécois: the majestic Saint Lawrence River. He also explores their relationship with money and the way they conduct business. Olivier asks whether it's easier to do business in Quebec or in France. Quebec, it seems, offers more opportunities for companies, with fewer regulations and restrictions, while France remains a very productive country despite the thirty-five-hour workweek.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Canada, France
In part 8 of Le Québec parle aux Français, Olivier discusses the cost of maintaining a high standard of living. Is France living beyond its means? Heavy taxation and full employment would go some way toward balancing the national budget and covering the cost of welfare programs.
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
Quebec may never answer the vexing question: Should Quebec remain part of Canada or not? While opinions are divided, Quebecois don't necessarily show the same passion as the French when debating hot issues.
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
Quebec's current relationship with France is complex. French politicians tend to tread carefully regarding Quebec's sovereignty. For many years France adopted a policy of "neither indifference nor interference," a more neutral stance somewhere between a hands-off policy (which could be seen as complete abandonment) and an overly intrusive relationship. Sarkozy moved away from that policy, but his successor Hollande revived it.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lionel shows us around a family farm that spans three generations. This traditional dairy and cattle farm takes good care of its animals, which enjoy a special "cow wash." Nursing cows are allowed a break from milk production prior to calving, and nothing is left to chance as the sex of the newborn calf is predetermined thanks to artificial insemination.
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
Oliver concludes this eleven-part series with a visit to Fort Chambry, where French and British armies fought over new Canadian territories. How did this affect the present? Olivier leaves us to draw our own conclusions and assures us that he is fond of the Québécois as much as they are fond of him. He shares his final impressions of Quebec in a lovely song at the end.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In this episode, Pierre Esparre, a fine mosaic artist, explains how he discovered his talent and how he gets his inspiration from everyday life, whether it's a street scene, a YouTube video, or an Internet page. Watch this video to see how Pierre translates his ideas into quirky, humorous, and eye-catching creations.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
In this new series, Le Jour où tout a basculé (The Day When Everything Turned Upside Down), a mother and son's close relationship is about to change. Enzo, who lives with his mother Murielle, runs into a man with a distinctive tattoo. Determined to track down the man, whom he believes to be his father, he starts an inquiry of his own despite his mother's skepticism.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo is convinced a man with a thorny rose tattoo is his father. He can't wait to share his discovery with his mother, but she claims it's not possible: because of his shady past, his father can't be in the country. But Enzo doesn't want to believe her....
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo's mother finally admits that she knew of his father's whereabouts and asks for Enzo's forgiveness for keeping it a secret. Enzo is still in shock and not ready to forgive her. He's following another lead, a young woman who may eventually take him to his real father.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo unexpectedly meets his father for the first time at Angèle's house. Feeling extremely awkward, he cuts short his visit with Angèle, who, of course, doesn't understand. She later reveals her true feelings for Enzo, who recoils when she tries to kiss him. Angèle storms off, hurt and mystified.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo meets Angèle's dad Brice again and seizes the opportunity to take a picture of him by pretending to admire his tattoo. His hopes of finding his real father are dashed when he shows his mother the photograph, and she doesn't recognize the face. The only bright spot in all this is that Angèle may not be his sister after all.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo ruined his chances with Angèle, and their budding romance is shattered. Angèle feels totally betrayed as she learns the real reason of his pursuit: the search for his father.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo has not heard from Angèle since the fiasco of his last visit, but he does hear from Brice, who contacts him unexpectedly to share stories about his father. Enzo finds out that Brice used to be a very close friend of his father's, and Enzo is thrilled to gather some information at last.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo and Brice have an unexpected visit from Murielle at the café. After eavesdropping on their conversation, she walks up to them and calls out Alain's name, hoping that Brice will respond and reveal his true identity. Instead, Brice draws a blank face and flees the scene.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Enzo could not be happier. At last, he is reunited with his father, and his sister!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Paris would be an entirely different city today if the architect Le Corbusier had carried out his ambitious project for the capital. But Minister of Culture André Malraux put a stop to this and set out to preserve the historic heritage of Paris by introducing a new law. Find out what Paris could have looked like in this video!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Enjoy browsing through this charming boutique in Brittany called "La Dilettante." There, you'll find an eclectic range of objects and paintings on driftwood, linen, and traditional canvas, all with a distinct nautical or country theme.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Cyril Dion, Mélanie Laurent, and their crew set out to discover how people are trying to make the world a better place. They travel to Reunion Island, Finland, Belgium, India, Great Britain, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, and Iceland for their documentary Demain (Tomorrow).
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Discover Chambourcy with Daniel Benchimol. Chambourcy is a small town on the outskirts of Paris that is full of charming surprises. An interesting garden called Le Désert de Retz will take you back through time with eclectic constructions reminiscent of extinct civilizations.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
After multiple organizations refused to finance his film Un frère comme moi (A Brother Like Me), Alain Etoundi decided to speak out by making a short film called Allez tous vous faire enfilmer! (Go Film Yourselves!). He criticizes the French film industry for not doing justice to suburban black communities, preferring instead to churn out films with stereotypical black characters.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment? You will not be able to recover it.