Roxane
Written and directed by Mélanie Auffret
Starring Guillaume de Tonquédec, Léa Drucker, Lionel Abelanski
In French with English subtitles
Showing nationally as part of the Alliance Française French film Festival
In the beautiful countryside of Brittany, northern France, taciturn organic egg farmer Raymond (Guillaume de Tonquédec) keeps his hens laying by performing sections of the French classic play, Cyrano de Bergerac – always accompanied by his favourite chook, Roxane.
Under the guise of “escaping Communism”, the United States encouraged Cuban parents to send their children to the US. Deb Shnookal has done a great service in minutely researching this escapade in both Cuba and the US, using official documents and personal memories, writes Barry Healy.
Barry Healy reviews two stories — one a novel, the other a play — that examine the artists' colony on the Greek island of Hydra from the early 1950s to the early '60s.
The history of the Haitian slaves’ revolt has been well-documented by CLR James in The Black Jacobins, among other books. But the period in between has been largely left blank, writes Barry Healy.
Nazi Germany's invasion of Holland was comparatively easy, but the Occupation was fraught due to the resistance. Among those who risked their lives in the struggle were three young women: Hannie Schaft and the sisters, Truus and Freddie Oversteegen. This book tells their story, writes Barry Healy.
How to be a Good Wife is charming, quirky celebration of women’s liberation and endorsement of the 1968 spirit, writes Barry Healy.
Returning for its second season, The Heights provides a refreshingly new take on that great Australian TV staple, the soap opera, writes Barry Healy.
La Vie Scolaire sets out to show another side to Paris' famous banlieues, one that is more hopeful, but fails to develop into a memorable film, argues Barry Healy.
The Swallows of Kabul is deeply affecting and graphically brings home the misogynistic barbarity of Taliban rule, writes Barry Healy.
Barry Healy suggests grabbing a glass of nice red wine, settle down and laugh watching Edmond until you hyperventilate.
