aixcentric

What is with the weather in Provence right now?

But I understand from locals that we can’t expect much until the days of the Saints Glaces have passed – that’s St Mamert on the 11th, St Pancrace on the 12th and St Servais on the 13th. In other words, all the coming week.  So maybe it’s a good time to visit the cinema.  We really are lucky in Aix to have three with such a wide range of films to try.

‘Maggie a Un Plan’ is an enjoyable New York-based, witty story of Maggie (Greta Gerwig) who plans to have a baby on her own by inseminating herself with the help of a former college acquaintance. She appears to be – as always – in perfect control of her life. But then she falls for an anthropologist named John played by Ethan Hawke, who has a failing marriage with Georgette, a great turn by Julianne Moore.  Later, Maggie – now tired of being married to John – comes up with yet another “perfect plan”: reuniting him with his ex-wife.  At the Renoir.

Currently playing and a recommendation for the Brits is ‘Eddie the Eagle’. For non-Brits it’s the story of a kid from Cheltenham who was desperate to compete in the Olympics – any sport would do – and how, in typical underdog fashion, he managed to get to Calgary in 1988 as the only British ski jumper.  It’s a curious experience in that many watching the film will know what happened to Eddie, so the director has bulked out the narrative by introducing a fictional coach played by Hugh Jackman.  I enjoyed it lots, but on reflection wished they had stuck more closely to the real story which (when I googled it) was in some ways more interesting.  It’s been on release in the UK for a while and has had a good reception especially amongst families looking for a feel-good movie. At the Cezanne in VF and VO.

‘Les Habitants’ is a new film from photographer Raymond Depardon who was the subject of a recent exhibition at MUCEM.  He has travelled across France inviting people into his caravan to be filmed talking about their lives.

An interesting concept but I learned from the trailer you need better French than mine to follow this one.

The Cannes Film Festival starts on Wednesday and as usual the Aix cinemas are quick off the blocks to get films to our screens. In fact on Wednesday 11th they will be showing the Opening Ceremony live from Cannes followed by Woody Allen’s new film Café Society. At the Renoir at 19:00.

The following day sees the Aix launch of ‘Money Monster’ on the same day as it is shown at Cannes.  It’s an American thriller directed by Jody Foster and starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts.  It follows a TV personality, Lee Gates, and a viewer, Kyle Budwell, who takes Gates as a hostage after losing his family’s money on a bad tip by Gates.

Then perhaps, next weekend, the sun might come out?