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LA BELLE VIE

La Belle Vie: France on the big screen and what to talk about at apéro

From little known facts about Napoleon to French cinema via France's sacred evening prayer (apéro time), this week's La Belle Vie newsletter offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like a French person.

La Belle Vie: France on the big screen and what to talk about at apéro
Two women enjoy a picnic apero in the sun on the banks of the River Seine in Paris (Photo by STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)

La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.

There are a lot of good movies coming out in the next few weeks and months. I’m particularly intrigued by a new biopic about Napoleon, which is set to air in November. He’ll be portrayed by none other than the Joker himself (also known as Joaquin Phoenix). 

Napoleon is always an interesting character to see on the screen (I am partial to his portrayal in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, personally). Part of the reason he can be a complex character to adapt is simply that he lived a very complicated life –  even his relationship to France was thorny. 

5 things you didn’t know about Napoleon

History films are one of my favourite cinematic genres – I have a bad habit of spending half the time watching, and the other half going through Wikipedia to find out what was properly adapted. Usually when I tell people this, they just say: “Why not watch more documentaries then?” which is great advice. 

There are plenty of informative documentaries about France, especially if you are not afraid to watch in French. French television channels often commission documentaries, so if you have cable TV you can always tune in to the channel M6. Otherwise, there are some classics that will teach you about French culture, society and current events.

9 of the best documentaries about France

And of course, we have the French to thank for inventing cinema in the first place. Photography equipment manufacturers Auguste and Louis Lumière screened the first presentation of a projected film on March 22nd, 1895, for an audience of 200 people. 

Cinema is not the only life-altering invention that we can thank the French for, but croissants are not one of them (though you could argue that they have perfected the pastry).

12 world-changing inventions that came from France

When it comes to naming French streets and roads, France does a great job with honouring its history and those who contributed to it. But in my opinion, the inventors of these essential products have not been given nearly enough credit. Okay, Louis Pasteur is well-recognised, but Louis Braille could do with a few more boulevards.

So who wins the prize for the biggest number of streets, avenues and boulevards bearing their name? Spoiler alert: Napoleon did not make the top 10, though the majority of the names can be traced back to French politics over the last three centuries.

Which French figure has the most streets named after them?

Knowing a little something about French history is always helpful for making it through dinner parties and apéros, and seeing as those namesakes have been deemed important enough to be featured on thousands of France’s streets, knowing who they are and what they did is a good place to start.

According to an IFOP survey, 90 percent of French people believe that the conversation is the most important part of a successful apéro, so you need to have your best anecdotes ready too. The most popular topic of conversation is general news, followed by how your family is getting on. So maybe not so heavy on the history, but best to be prepared!

Nine out of every 10 French people engage in these pre-dinner drinks, and some even refer to them as France’s ‘evening prayer’.

Apéro: All you need to know about the French evening ritual

If you are at a loss for what to bring along to apéro this summer, you can start with our guide to the five best drinks for warm weather in France.

You can never go wrong with a spritz – which basically refers to any drink that is a combination of wine (usually sparkling wine), soda water and an apéritif drink. They’re served long with lots of ice, so they make a refreshing and not too strong drink option in the summer.   

Rosé, spritz and pressé: 5 things to drink in France this summer

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LA BELLE VIE

La Belle Vie: The French love for the cinema and snacking like a French person

From the importance of French cinema to snacking like a French person and handy French expressions, this week's La Belle Vie newsletter offers you an essential starting point for eating, talking, drinking and living like a French person.

La Belle Vie: The French love for the cinema and snacking like a French person

La Belle Vie is our regular look at the real culture of France – from language to cuisine, manners to films. This newsletter is published weekly and you can receive it directly to your inbox, by going to your newsletter preferences in “My account”.

When I lived in the US, I enjoyed going to the movies, but it was a ‘special occasion’ activity and I did not go often. However, since moving to France, going to see films and discussing the latest blockbusters has become a much bigger part of my life. 

The film industry is very important here, which is no surprise considering the country’s long history with the medium, from the Lumière brothers to the French New Wave. Plus, the French government helps to fund it, allowing independent films find their way to the big screen and for the country to top European charts for the sheer number of films produced each year.

But aside from the strength of the industry, I’ve found that individual French people love the cinema. They have a personal relationship with it – as evidenced by the scores of people queuing to get back into the theatre following the Covid-19 lockdowns.

And a few weeks after moved to Paris, my very first French friend invited me to the movies. I expected that we would be going to a large theatre, but instead he took me to a small salle near La Sorbonne. I hardly understood anything in the film, but I remember being amazed by the number of small, arthouse theatres in the Latin Quarter. 

Last collective-run Paris cinema saved

Another difference between going to the movies in the US vs. France is the concessions menu. In the US, you can get a hot dog or an extra-large slurpee to enjoy while watching a movie, but in France the menu is more limited, usually including candy, (small) beverages, and popcorn (and don’t expect it to be drenched in fake butter).

If you start chewing or slurping loudly while in a French movie theatre, you’re bound to get a few dirty looks.

Why people don’t eat at the movies in France

Honestly, I really can’t complain about French movie etiquette, as it is born out of a respect for others and perhaps a different approach to snacking.

The French prefer longer, heartier meals, without the many small snacks in between. I’ve come to appreciate this part of the culture, and I genuinely think it has also helped me enjoy my meals more than I did before.

How to snack (or not) like a French person

But if you are craving some chips or nuts, then just plan an apéro with some friends. Many French cafés will give a small bowl of peanuts or pretzels at apéro time, alongside the drinks. 

Enjoying an apéro on a café terrace in the warm sun is one of the greatest pleasures of French summer, but there are some unwritten rules to be aware of.

Elbows in: An essential guide to French café terrace etiquette

The one downside to the French terrace is the cloud of smoke. When walking through major French cities, especially Paris, you become accustomed to it when passing by the terraces.

But you may be surprised to learn that the greater Paris region of Île-de-France actually has the lowest national rate with 21.9 percent of daily smokers.

MAP: Where in France do people smoke the most?

And finally, if you find yourself sitting at a smoke-heavy area of the terrace, you can always say to your French friend Ça te dit d’aller dedans ? (Are you down to go inside?)

Ça te dit is a handy expression, and we’ve put together a list of the seven other useful words and phrases of the day from this past month.

8 of our favourite French Words of the Day

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