aixcentric

If the Meteo forecasts are correct, we are in for a rainy Saturday and unsettled Sunday, so what’s available to enjoy – undercover? 

Cinema is a good bet of course.  Fiston, a rom-com filmed in Aix, is showing 5 times a day at the Cézanne (VF).  Also at the Cézanne you can see Monuments Men, produced by George Clooney in VF or VO.  This is the story of 7 soldiers despatched into mainland Europe to try to save works of art stolen by the Nazis. Someone said that if the Brits had invented Facebook, they would have had a ‘quite like’ button.  Well I think that would sum up my view of this film which is reasonably interesting but not terribly engaging/involving.  Inevitably in a war film, there are moments of sadness but these are quickly forgotten as the soldiers go back to wise-cracking.  And it has an annoying soundtrack with a little tune repeated sans cesse.

The programme of re-mastered classics continues with Hitchcock’s Le Crime Etait Presque Parfait (Dial M for Murder) with a dastardly Ray Milland and an elegant Grace Kelly.  It’s a great story and should be amazing in 3D.  At the Cézanne Sunday 23rd 18:00hrs and Tuesday 25th 14:00hrs.

Art-wise there is a new exhibition at the Pavillon de Vendome called Semblances.  Local artist Sophie Menuet has been given a free range for her installations which create ‘ a veritable dialogue between the pavillon, its history, its collections and her creations’. Hmmm.  S.Menuet%20Dossier%20de%20Presse[1] has the details and a wonderful photo of the artist!  Do have a look!

Starts tomorrow. It’s open afternoons only until 13th April (13:30-17:00).  After that, it is open 10-12:30 and 13:30-18:00.  Closed Tuesdays.

If you can travel further afield, the  new show at the fantastic Carrieres de Lumieres at Les Baux de Provence has opened.  This is an old quarry which now hosts multimedia shows, unique in the world.  This year’s offering is “Klimt and Vienna. A century of Gold and Colours”. Paintings are projected onto the rough walls, the pillars and the uneven floor of the quarry, which gives them a depth and immediacy – and the soundtrack usually complements the subject.  Open every day.  Details here: http://www.lesbauxdeprovence.com/en/zoom/klimt-and-vienna-century-gold-and-colours  If you haven’t visited before, it’s a well-signed up short drive from Les Baux and there is a good-sized car park. It’s freezing cold inside so wrap up. There’s a postcards shop but if you want to eat, you will have to go back into Les Baux itself. 

Miles in the opposite direction, but well worth a visit is the Musée Bonnard at Le Cannet, just north of Cannes.   A new show has just begun there, ‘Les Peintres Graveurs’ which focuses on prints collected by Parisian dealer Ambroise Vollard.

Bonnard loved Le Cannet and spent the last years of his life painting the sea, the town and the splendid Mediterranean vegetation.  At the museum, you can pick up a guide to a walking trail of sites from which Bonnard painted – there are panels so you can see his interpretation of each view.  This is very interesting – but maybe best kept for a sunny day!  Details of the museum are here: http://www.museebonnard.fr/agenda/event/Mm1oN2xvbGN0Y2I4NmQ1aG1nY3B1N2VqMDQgdTlrZ2RwY3YxdWY3djc1MWt0azE0NGhzMjhAZw/5?start=1394924400&end=1402869600  Parking is a bit of a nightmare – you have to take your chance in the surrounding streets; but once there, you can climb up to the old part of town where there are lots of restaurants and a big terrace for views of the Med.

And finally………Carla Bruni is coming to Aix on Wednesday 26th March.  She will be singing at the Pasino and, if Paris Match is to be believed, will be accompanied by her husband.  They say that M Sarkozy enjoys these concerts and has fun working the crowds.  Tickets are 43-48€!

Lots to enjoy whatever the weather.

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