I’m currently obsessed with two French duos. The first are these grinning fools, one with serious five o’clock shadow, the other sporting a sideways fishing cap, who peer out from every shop window in every village in France. They’re on the poster for the film “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis”. From what I gather it’s a fish out of water story about a guy from the south being exiled to the reviled Pas de Calais region in the north. It is the most popular film in France ever. I want to see it, even though I know I’ll barely understand a word while all the neighbors laugh hysterically. I would have barely crossed the street to see the US equivalent (something like “Dumb & Dumber maybe?) but here it’s research. Plus, the cinema is just a few doors down, on this side of the road.
Then on the opposite end of the spectrum there’s Carine Roitfeld and Emmanuelle Alt from French Vogue. I feel like I could study pictures of them forever and still not be able to put my finger on what makes them so terrifyingly glamorous and impossibly sexy. It’s like a schoolgirl crush, but again, I can justify it as important cultural detective work.
5 comments:
boff (as we french say) they have just got photoshop that's all. I think one of them went a bit far sharpening her chin
The second I saw that photo I was intrigued. They look so exotic and mysterious - completely opposite of what I am.
I know what it is, they look aloof. That's something I can never be. An ex-boss once told me that every emotion I have shows on my face. It's why I can never lie.
Oh, to be aloof and exotic.
OK, the first one is sooo not allowed. As foreigners in France we are absolutely not permitted to enjoy - let alone understand - this kind of film. Nor would we want to. Really, even though you don;t have to cross the road, don't do it.
The second one is totally allowed. Those two are quite the pair aren't they? Strangely alluring.
I'm guessing that they are both somewhat 'high maintenance'....
Great blog btw. Just found it, and I'm liking it a lot....
What a relief to be excused from actually seeing the film! Better to be intrigued from a safe distance...Maybe I can take the same approach next time our neighbors start dishing up the farci and chabrot?
Having looked at way too many photos of these ladies Rosie, I can say they have a builtin photoshop attachment that travels everywhere with them. I shouldn't have used one where Carine is in glasses because her eyes are actually incredibly warm and friendly (looking, anyway). But Michele is right, it's the attitude, the confidence that attracts me most and possibly the unapologetically messy hair.
We saw the woman on the right on a French talk show recently and immedietly dubbed her the French Shane (after the hair cutting nympho lesbian on the L Word, a US cable TV power lesbian soap opera).
I think what makes French women seem so interesting is that you know there are no "uptalkers" in France (you KNOW, girls who accent the final WORD or syllable of every senTENCE, American mall-girl style), hence even when they're saying nothing particularly intelligent at least they don't sound like total morons.
Despite speaking almost no French we really got into watching French talks shows on our last trip to Paris. best and congrats, the Hound
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