L’Immersion – Immersion
Now It’s Personal: French Comedy, Rock, and Journal Writing
Le Film du Jour: Film of the Day
“OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (OSS 117: Le Caire, nid d’espions)”
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies, or OSS 117: Le Caire, nid d’espions in French, has a lot to offer English-speakers. Modeled after Jean Bruce’s novels and subsequent spy films of the 1950’s and 1960’s, this modern (and humorous) take on the spy film genre feels a lot like the James Bond films English-speakers know and love.
There is also the fact that you might recognize Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo, stars of the Academy Award-winning film The Artist, who play starring roles in the film. In France, OSS 117 garnered enough praise to warrant a sequel, OSS 117: Lost in Rio (OSS 117: Rio ne répond plus), which is also well worth a watch. Set in 1955, the film follows the hapless adventures of Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, secret agent 117 of the Office of Strategic Services.
When a fellow friend and agent disappears, OSS 117 follows the trail to Cairo, where he foils Nazi plots, stumbles around the culture, and seduces women. Since the film draws on the campiness of early spy films, Jean Dujardin speaks with enunciated clarity and panache. That means this film is a gold mine for those looking to boost their comprehension, vocabulary, and pronunciation…while laughing all along the way.
La Musique du Jour: Music of the Day
BB Brunes
And now for some rock. BB Brunes are part of “la nouvelle scène rock française,” or the “new French rock scene,” which pulls from punk and rock bands of the 1960’s and 1970’s to create a breezy, effortlessly cool sound. Their name is based on Serge Gainsbourg’s song “Initial BB,” and Boulevard Brune,, a neighborhood in Paris.
It is a common trend among French rock bands to sing in English, so BB Brunes are often cited as one of the few French rock bands to find success singing in French. Their debut album, Blonde Comme Moi (2007), debuted while the band was still in high school. By the time their second album, Nico Teen Love (2009), was released, the band was an absolute sensation. Nico Teen Love quickly went platinum and won the Victorie de la Musique for “Best New Artist” later that year.
2012 brought about their best album yet, Long Courrier, which showcased a new level of maturity in their music. The band is currently on hiatus, but you can also check out lead singer Adrien Gallo’s solo side project, Gemini (2014). It is every bit as good as his work with the band. For BB Brunes, give “Coups et Blessures” a shot. For Adrien Gallo, try “Crocodile.”
L'Activité du Jour: Activity of the Day
Un Note d’un Journal Intime: A Diary Entry
Our final activity will take you beyond this book. Creating a journal or diary to learn another language works on multiple fronts. First, you are creating a personal connection with the language. Secondly, you are practicing how to write about things beyond “the woman is tall” and “the man eats bread”, so it is a great way to graduate from the basics and upgrade your grammar and vocabulary. The best thing about writing in a journal is that it is all about you and your interests. You can write about your favorite French films, recipes you are cooking, books you are reading, or the most basic details of your day. Whether you are making a travel journal or using it to write down your thoughts and feelings, commit to it. Today marks your first entry, but the best way to make this a habit is to put yourself into it.
If you want to buy a journal and a fancy pen, go for it. If you want to stick to sheets of paper and that random pencil you have lying around, more power to you. Another recommendation is to use a journaling app like Day One or Memento, which allows you to add pictures, links to French sites and study materials, and share with social media. Even if that is not your style, it is still easy to personalize your entries. Especially if you are using this journal during your travels at some point, taping or gluing tangible memories (photos, admission tickets, map scraps, restaurant wrappers, etc.) will make this something both sustainable and special.
So, grab your dictionary and go! Years down the road, you will have these entries to remind you of the beginning of your journey with the French language.
Bonne chance! (Good luck!)