Marion Cotillard n’était pas une grande vedette quand elle a obtenu le rôle d’Edith Piaf dans “La Môme.” Mais déjà une actrice formidable, elle avait un éventail impressionnant de rôles à son actif, et le réalisateur du film ne doutait pas qu’elle soit “la bonne.” Il avait raison: Marion a remporté l’Oscar de la meilleure actrice en 2008. Un détail intéressant: Le titre du film à sa sortie aux Etats-Unis – qui, quelle ironie, est en français – est “La Vie en Rose,” le nom de la fameuse chanson de Piaf qui veut dire mot-à mot “la vie à travers des lunettes colorées en rose.” Le titre français vient du surnom de Piaf: “La Môme Piaf,” qu’on peut traduire par “petit moineau” mais qui veut dire aussi “la gosse Piaf.”

The Mediterranean is the most polluted sea in the world, and some scientists are on a sailboat studying the problem by collecting plastic samples for analysis. For a few hundred euros, some excursions are open to the public, who get an opportunity to help the cause.

Patrice and Sophie discuss Anne Hidalgo's contribution to the city of Paris. As mayor, she is a controversial figure best known for banning cars from the banks of the Seine. Many Parisians either love her or hate her.

The town of Richelieu, named for the famous cardinal, organized a Chinese film festival. Already twinned with the Chinese town of Wuzhen, the town took an opportunity to celebrate both classic and newly released films from that country. The famous French director Claude Lelouch was the "godfather" of this initiative.

It’s common to see photos of celebrities aged forty and up happily pregnant or pushing a pram. But according to most doctors, a woman’s chances of conceiving drop dramatically after age thirty-eight or so. Of course there are exceptions. Modern medical fertility treatments allowed a sixty-six-year-old Romanian woman to give birth to twins in 2005. But unless we’re willing and able to procure such treatments, which can be financially, emotionally, and physically draining, those who want to wait until their forties to have kids will have to take their chances.

Peaceful student demonstrations were marred by the intrusion of young rioters, non-students who joined in and caused mayhem and violence. Now the student organizers have accepted the aid of union members and are working together to keep the march safe.

Twenty-eight years ago, Frenchman Michel Garcia fell in love with Easter Island, home of clear blue water and the breathtaking moai. Since then he’s kept busy as a diving instructor and doting father, and he even found time to discover a new species of shellfish!