What do our pets do alone in our homes all day? That is the question The Secret Life of Pets sets out to answer. Be prepared to be surprised! Max has a dream life. Katie has rescued him from an animal shelter and now he lives with her in a New York apartment. As soon … Continue reading “Look Out: Animals Home Alone”
A new exhibition in Paris shines a spotlight on a man who never shied away from one: Oscar Wilde. The author of The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest lived a life as witty and provocative as his work. Oscar Wilde had an affinity and long connection with France, so the … Continue reading “Oscar Wilde: Impertinent Portrait”
This year’s Deauville American Film Festival is going less for the Hollywood glitz and more for subversive, independent voices with tributes to documentary maker extraordinaire Michael Moore and actor-director-producer James Franco. There are of course lots of stars on the red carpet at Deauville, but Moore and Franco show another side of American cinema. Michael … Continue reading “Michael Moore and James Franco at Deauville”
Rebels, hedonists, social critics… eternal outsiders who have influenced generations of writers and artists that followed. The Beat Generation exhibition at the Paris Pompidou Centre looks at the legacy of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and many more. The Beat poetry movement was born in the wake of World War Two. But its influence … Continue reading “The Beat Generation: On the Road”
Emily White was born with Spina Bifida, a condition where the spine does not develop properly and leaving a gap in the spine. She is 10 years old now, and she uses a wheelchair to move around. Like any child she loves to play sports, spend time with friends, read comics, and watch TV. Emily … Continue reading “The Department of Ability: No Ordinary Superhero Comic”
Les cartes mentales rompent la linéarité d’une prise de notes traditionnelle. Leurs arborescences et la vision globale qu’elles offrent s’approchent sans doute mieux du fonctionnement de notre cerveau et de son fonctionnement cognitif. Ainsi, l’utilisation de cartes heuristiques (mind maps) en classe d’anglais peut s’avérer un outil de taille, susceptible de séduire les élèves jusque-là … Continue reading “Mind maps : faciliter la compréhension et la mémorisation au collège”
What more fitting way to celebrate Roald Dahl’s centenary than a film adaptation of his favourite of his children’s stories by Steven Spielberg? The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) was published in 1982, the same year as Spielberg was making a name for himself with E.T. It was Dahl’s favourite of his own books, and contains … Continue reading “A Big Friendly Giant of a Film”
The Suffragette campaign was one of the major civil-rights movements of 20th century Britain. It’s amazing that 100 years after women finally got the vote, there had never been a film made about it! Suffragette, starring Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby, An Education), Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep, finally puts the Suffragettes centre stage. … Continue reading “Suffragettes on Screen”
Muhammad Ali hadn’t boxed in over thirty years, but news of his death made the headlines around the world. Ali was much more than a sporting champion, a strong personality who made his mark on the civil rights movement. Former heavyweight World Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali died on 4 June, 2016. He had suffered from … Continue reading “Muhammad Ali Floated Like a Butterfly”
Britain broke out the bunting and the Union Jacks to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. There are not many 90-year-olds who are still doing a full-time job, even though the Queen now relies more on her children and grandchildren to represent the Royal Family abroad. After becoming Britain’s longest-reigning monarch on 9 September 2015, … Continue reading “The Queen at 90”