Macbeth: Fact and Fiction

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 06 September 2016 > What's On

In 2016, Britain is commemorating the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare. Kick off the celebrations with the most recent film adaptation of “the Scottish play”, Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard as the ambitious couple who will stop at nothing to gain and keep power. But how accurate is Shakespeare’s portrayal of … Continue reading “Macbeth: Fact and Fiction”

Marlon James Man Booker Winner at America Festival

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 06 September 2016 > What's On

Take the real attempted assassination of Bob Marley and a vast cast of fiction characters. Mix together and you get the 2015 winner of the Man Booker, Britain’s most prestigious prize for fiction, by Marlon James, who will be a star guest at the 2016 Festival America in Vincennes from 8 to 11 September. Marlon … Continue reading “Marlon James Man Booker Winner at America Festival”

Festival America Literary Celebration in Vincennes

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 06 September 2016 > What's On

For its eighth edition (8-11 September), Festival America offers a plethora of activities around literature in the Americas. There is a day for school groups on Friday 9th. This year’s Festival America has something for everyone. Readings, talks, workshops, beautiful exhibitions and translation “jousts” are all part of the programme. Look out for several events … Continue reading “Festival America Literary Celebration in Vincennes”

Michael Moore and James Franco at Deauville

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 23 August 2016 > What's On

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”

The Beat Generation: On the Road

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 23 August 2016 > What's On

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”

A Big Friendly Giant of a Film

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 19 August 2016 > What's On

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”

Suffragettes on Screen

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 17 August 2016 > What's On

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”