Spies Fooling Spies

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 14 April 2022 > What's On

A new film details a barely believable operation from World War II involving a dead body designed to fool the Nazis about Allied invasion plans and save the lives of thousands of soldiers. The success of Operation Mincemeat hinged on creating a carefully crafted fiction, which is where James Bond author Ian Fleming came in. … Continue reading “Spies Fooling Spies”

The Big Jubilee Read

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 13 April 2022 > Celebrate

Do some armchair travelling with the Big Jubilee Read: a list of 70 books, ten for each decade of Queen Elizabeth II’s record-breaking reign. As befits its head, the authors and settings range all over the Commonwealth: representing 31 countries on six continents. It includes eight Nobel Literature Laureates, and a lot of Booker Prize … Continue reading “The Big Jubilee Read”

They Spoke and They Conquered

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 07 April 2022 > Pedagogy

Back in January, we announced this year’s Cicéronnades competition organised by the Académie of Orléans-Tours, which enncourages pupils to video themselves reciting a poem or prose text. The winners have just been announced, as part of la semaine des langues vivantes.  The Académie of Orléans-Tours is organising a competition for pupils to recite texts in … Continue reading “They Spoke and They Conquered”

Free Celtic Film Festival

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 29 March 2022 > What's On

The second edition of the Festival du film celtique will take place at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris on the evenings of 11 and 12 April.  Feature and short films from Scotland and Wales will be shown, with lots of opportunity to talk to filmmakers. There are a few invitations available. On Monday … Continue reading “Free Celtic Film Festival”

And the Oscar Winners Are…

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 28 March 2022 > What's On

The 2022 Oscar ceremony was memorable… But what about the winning films? Several of our favourite films of the last year came away with awards. And CODA beat off some favourites to take Best Picture. New Zealand director Jane Campion was the first woman to be nominated twice for Best Director, and this time she … Continue reading “And the Oscar Winners Are…”

Lyon: Crime (Fiction) Capital

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 28 March 2022 > What's On

France’s biggest crime-fiction festival is back at its usual time of year, 1-3 April, after a Covid-delayed edition in July 2021. For its 18th edition it has a large roll-call of writers from France and around the world, including many from the U.K. and the U.S. Alongside stars like Harlan Coben, John Grisham and Paula … Continue reading “Lyon: Crime (Fiction) Capital”

Semaine des Langues 2022

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 28 March 2022 > Pedagogy

Are you ready for la Semaine des langues? This year’s edition is from 4-8 April and is on the theme of « Vivre l’Europe, s’ouvrir au monde ». Lots of schools have events planned involving themed menus at the canteen, signs and posters in several languages around the school or short initiation sessions allowing pupils … Continue reading “Semaine des Langues 2022”

The Power of the Dog

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 14 March 2022 > What's On

Ever since Jane Campion burst onto the world stage with an Oscar for The Piano, she has shown a deft capacity to depict buttoned up, repressed emotions. The Power of the Dog, nominated for 12 Oscars, is no exception. The Netflix new-generation Western stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jesse Plomens as Montana ranching brothers Phil and … Continue reading “The Power of the Dog”