Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with french

Irma Vep: final scene

whiskeyspider — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:05:16 -0800

What film techniques were used in the final scene of Irma Vep? I've always been in love with the final scene of Irma Vep, more so as a stand-alone piece of video art outside of the context of the film. Can anyone shed any light on how it was made? It looks as though some of the shapes were "scratched" onto the film itself -- is this how it was done? And what about the black geometric shapes? The effects don't look digital to me, but I don't know much about this stuff.

And more importantly, do you know who made it? And where can I see more video like this? Thanks.

How much French could I learn in a year?

curious_yellow — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:07:47 -0800

I'm in London and pondering taking some part time French courses. I'd probably be receiving about 3-6 hours of teaching a week, with some obvious extra study at home. Specifically I'm pondering studying with the Institut Francais. I have almost no knowledge of French beyond Bonjour. How far could I expect to get in a year or two?

For background, I've not been doing too well with some other study I've been doing, and am pondering switching to this a) for variety b) because I think contact time helps, and my previous course was pretty much all work-from-home.

Can I teach myself French?

SamuelBowman — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:21:53 -0800

Can I teach myself to read French in five months? Quite a lot of work done on the area I'm studying is in French, which I cannot read or speak. The only French I've studied was back at school, which I did for three years and barely passed my GCSE-equivalent exam. I wasn't good, but I have a basic grounding that I can build on.

My subject is African history, so I won't need to be able to read technical or scientific language. Five months would be a decent amount of time as I won't be doing much research until then. (This is a UK course, so I have lots of free time for stuff like this.)

Learning to read French isn't essential, but I think it would be a help by opening up a lot of French-language sources to me. Reading is all I really need to do for the work I'm doing at the moment.

Can this be done? If so, how?

I can't go on. I'll go on.

cascando — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:00:04 -0800

Beckett translation needed badly, please. En Francais. Please look up, or translate the last couple lines of The Unnameable ( L'Innommable ) for me. In English, it works out to: "I can't go on. I'll go on." What is the French? If you have a French copy in front of you, could you please add the punctuation and structure as it is written. Maybe the last few lines of the book ? Sorry, looked everywhere, couldn't find online or in the local library. Need this information very badly, thank you.

Frog Music

mtstover — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:44:33 -0800

What is the French song and band posted on the background of this page? I must download now!

Quoting Proust

1f2frfbf — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:37:03 -0800

Looking for a Marcel Proust quote in the original French. “Love is space and time directly perceptible to the heart” is what my copy of Auden's Book of Aphorisms says, but I want to know know what Proust originally wrote. Googling around I can find that it's from The Captive (La Prisonnière), and I can do a machine translation, but I'd rather know the original French.

The alternate 'Testament of Doctor Mabuse' - Fritz Lang's German and French versions

0bvious — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:55:35 -0800

Having recently learned that Fritz Lang filmed an entirely different, French language, version of The Testament of Doctor Mabuse alongside the 'original' German version, I set out to find it. The only way to get hold of it seems to be via the Criterion DVD, but this is a Region 1 (NTSC) release only. Where else can I get a copy of the alternate Mabuse? Preferably as either a download or as a Region 2 (PAL) release I would rather have the Criterion release, of course, because it is the definitive package of the film(s) - but my laptop has a very strict DVD drive that is impossible to hack to multi-region (Matshita UJ-841s). I have tried all sorts of software and firmware solutions. Non work.

I want to use the two films, running alongside each other, at a symposium I am presenting at. And I can't rely on my university having a region 1 setup.

Is it worth buying the Region 1 Criterion and somehow transferring it to Region 2? I heard that this can be done, with patience and the right software.

In a perfect world I want the Criterion release as a region 2 DVD.

Other solutions?

Do the Frenchs really make a better red?

fantasticninety — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:13:10 -0800

I find that French red wine has a very distinctive body and aftertaste. Is this truly specific to French wine, or have I not found some equivalents elsewhere in the world? I'll be very specific in my observations.

Much wine I've tasted has had a nice nose, and even a nice initial hit in the palette. However, it's once the wine goes towards the back of the mouth that it is easy to spot the difference between French wine and other countries.

Once the wine hits the back of the palette, non-French red wine starts to break up, and the individual elements start to separate in the sense that one can almost feel the water separate from the alcohol and from the flavours. It's not a pleasant experience. I find it especially disagreeable the sensation of the water separating from the wine, if that makes sense.

Secondly, with the aftertaste, there is often a kind of bitter or sharp nose that comes back through the palette. I find with French red wine there is sometimes a tannic hit, but rarely that sharp reflex. If anything, sometimes it feels slightly gravelly, or earthy.

Ok, so these are some vast generalisations, and I've definitely drunk crappy French wine. My main sample regions from France are St. Emilion and Cahors, but by no means only these areas.

To summarise, of all the wine I've drunk from around the world, I've yet to find non-French wine (except for some nice Italians) which avoid those two main pitfalls listed above.

This is defiinitely not just exaggeration or hyperbole, or whatever. I would super appreciate any input from other readers who have made an effort to really analyse red wine and especially some of the distinct characteristics between new world and old world wine.

I'll add, that one other nice thing I've noticed with some French wine is a kind of floral richness which isn't just sweet, but full. Some French has a nice round tone or ovalness to it, but others have this very full and rich palette to it. Again, I've yet to find this elsewhere (except for the richness part which I've found sometimes with Italian reds).

Disclaimer: I've never drunk a bottle worth more than a 100 dollars (give or take) and I'm ignoring stuff cheaper than 5 bucks.

Thanks!

Où est la bibliothèque?

tdismukes — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:58:46 -0800

Help me learn to read French. I've decided to knuckle down and make a serious attempt at learning some actual functional skills in written French. Most language textbooks that I've seen are less than engaging. I'd like to learn to read in French the same way I learned to read in English - starting with very simple books and working my way up.

What I would like is a list of fun, affordable, readily available children's books in French that would start at the "Green Eggs and Ham" level and work up to, say, Harry Potter. (Please indicate where any recommended books would fit along that progression.)

If anyone can recommend a particularly good French grammar book for reference, that would be useful as well.

My Little Monkey Head

AzraelBrown — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:10:00 -0800

French translation question: "little monkey head"? In "Penguin Island", Anatole France refers to unattractive body parts twice as a "little monkey head", "petite tête de singe" -- above is the original french, below is a google/babelfish translation:

"...et une petite tête de singe au-dessous du nombril."

"...and a small monkey's head below the navel."

"...et il semble qu'elle ait à chaque articulation des jambes une petite tête de singe."

"...and she seems to have at each knee a little monkey head."

I'm comparing the main english translation of this book, and the translation adds that the monkey head below the navel is a "stain", but the French has no corresponding mention of it; the knee one is extremely rearranged in the english translation to try and make sense of it. I'm guessing it's a colloquialism -- France has a lot of innuendo and language-play in the rest of the book -- but I can't find an explanation for this description, let alone using it twice to refer to two different people. Any French-speakers have any idea what France means by the little monkey head - or is it purely descriptive?

dit moi tous les choses!

Rocket26 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:19:24 -0800

Does anyone here on ask mefi have experience with the teaching assistants program in France? I'm seriously considering applying. Or for that matter, does anyone have thoughts or experiences with other programs in France teaching English to French folk? I have very basic French, but I am taking classes and plan on doing it throughout the year. I am just really enjoying it and I had no idea until my teacher mentioned it that the French government would actually pay some cold hard euros to have a native speaker come teach, even to someone (comme moi) that was a beginner. You work like 12 hours a week in a school, elementary or high school, and you get paid something to do it? 12 hours and the rest is yours to explore? I worked as a teachers assistant for a few years here and have some solid teaching experience.

It just seems to good to be true. Anyone out there been connected to this program or to other programs teaching in France?

Recommend some French-language books (or sites) for a intermediate French-learner.

Kurichina — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:01:22 -0800

Recommend some French-language books (or sites) for a intermediate French-learner, to (hopefully enjoy) reading with the aid of a dictionary and bescherelle. I'm looking for some French-language books to read but am at an odd spot in my comprehension. I don't want to read a textbook or books for kids, but my comprehension isn't high enough to read any truly complicated texts. I recently tested at a Government of Canada B/C Level (i.e. I'm comfortable with multiple tenses/forms but they do not come automatically), and was told by my tester that while my grammar was fairly solid, my weak vocabularly was primarily to blame for being in the B rather than C range. I think reading would be a somewhat entertaining way to get going on improving my vocabularly while I'm waiting for a class/ The sort of literature I'm looking for:

- novels (could include young adult or contemporary as long as it's a. good - do not want to be reading some schlockly teen romance, thanks - and b. not hugely complicated - I'm willing to use my dictionary, but hopefully wouldn't be constantly swithcing back and forth between dictionary and book)

- non-fiction (politics/history/art/entertainment etc, again as long as it's not hugely complicated)

- short stories

- magazines with somewhat 'meaty' and/or interesting content (like a Walrus or Geist sort of publication)

Essentially, I'm looking for the right balance between meaty enough to be interesting, but dumb enough for me to read in my second language. Know of anything that fits the bill? I've seen this question but I'm looking for specifically for something that would suit my language level.

Chantez!

fantasticninety — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:58:52 -0800

What are some French music artists in the vein of Tryo, Vincent Delerm, Grand Corps Malade, Ogres de Barback and Benabar? The question asks it all. I really like French music, and am looking for more artists in this style. Thanks so much!

Help me find a french song

jgwong — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:37:41 -0800

Help me find a pop french song, I only remember little bits from its music video (more inside). It's a pop french song sang by a girl. The music video begins with a big group of youth who sneak without permission to the roof of a tall building and then celebrate and party. The girl's white, with wavy hair if I recall correctly.

I saw it twice and I liked it a lot but I can't locate it. I know it's not much but perhaps the french hive mind can help. Thanks!

What’s “Peanut Butter Cups” in French?

hydrophonic — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:52 -0800

How would I write “Peanut Butter Cups” in French? Help me win the Bake Off at work! It’s the candy bar challenge, where the challenge is to use candy as an ingredient or inspiration. I made my own version of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups last night, using ganache. I want to prepare my title card in French. I figure a little marketing can’t hurt.

Awesomeness in Haute-Alpes this weekend?

swhitt — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:07:15 -0800

We're looking for activities/places/things not to miss in the northern French Alps this weekend. We'll be spending Friday->Sunday in Evian-les-Bains and Sunday->Tuesday in Grenoble. What should we not miss? We have a car, if that makes a difference, and are willing to drive several hours to see the best things. What made you go 'WOW!'?

How else to endure all those rituals?

The Whelk — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:12:22 -0800

You live at Versailles in 1658. You're nobility of the blood. You know the King. What drugs, drinks, or other ways of getting totally fucked up are available to you? How often could you partake before people started to Have A Problem with it? Aside from alcohol, of course, which would be in abundance, but what kind? Wine? Beer? What kind of spirits? I know laudanum was available, and cocoa leaves mixed with tobacco enjoyed a fad but smoking was looked down on. I think. What other ways did the French Court get totally ripped? Would coffee be around? Would it be spiked? Marijuana? Hashish? More powerful concentrations of opiates? Coca Leaves processed into cocaine? Exotically dangerous substances?

What do these French lines from "Private Lives" mean?

starvingartist — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:25:16 -0800

Le filter français - what do these lines from Noël Coward's "Private Lives" mean? I assume it must be idiomatic, or at least colloquial, because Babelfish was pretty useless. Context - the maid (Louise) brings in a coffee service, puts it on the table, then goes to straighten the piano bench and accidentally sits on the keyboard.

"Pardon, madame - ça n'est pas ma faute, mais si madame n'avait pas laissé son piano ouvert, je ne me serai pas cogné dedans. Oh! Puis qui'ils se me haut à table qui'ils boivent leurs café et qu'ils me fichent la paix!"

If only Bescherelle was a program

djgh — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:06:48 -0800

Verb conjugation tester for OSX? Are there any verb conjugation testers for OSX, whereby the question is either "fill in all the blanks to this verb table" or "2nd person plural of verb x" (etc.)?

I've tried repurposing flashcard programs for this, but having to have one card per conjugation (i.e. a card for 1st person singular, card for 2nd person singular etc. of the same verb) is really wearing and not the way I want to be able to do this.

I've got French Verb Games, but it's not doing what I want it to do - the question shows an entire verb table with one blank (allowing me to figure out the answer rather then know it), and the tests include hundreds of verbs I don't know rather than testing me on what I do know.

I would therefore prefer to input the verb tables myself.

I'm more than happy to accept a non-GUI Ruby, Python etc. script for this.

Verbum -> Parole due to religious scruples?

everichon — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:43:57 -0800

I looked up the etymology of parole in An etymological dictionary of the Romance languages, and was intrigued by this: "It took the place of the L. verbum which, from religious scruples, was sparingly used" (emphasis mine). What "religious scruples" are they alluding to? No elaboration is given in that entry. I realize that verbum means "word", and shares a stem with lots of other meanings, but I would love to know if anyone knows more.

Can I Learn While I'm Sleeping?

minicloud — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:42:41 -0800

Does subliminal learning work? I'm at an intermediate level of french but since I'm leaving for France in a month I want to speed up the process a bit. I already do a lot of work (listening to RFI while I work, speaking whenever possible etc) but I figure if listening to podcasts while I sleep would help too then why not? I've always thought that subliminal learning in one's sleep doesnt work and that its just a gimmick (in fact when I tried to search for this on google all of my results were trying to sell me hypnosis CDs) but I thought maybe the AskMefi community might know a thing or two about this. So tell me, will I be wasting my iPod's battery by listening to French in my sleep?

Is any French TV actually any good?

handee — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:12:23 -0800

Is any French TV actually any good? I'm trying to learn French, and I live in France, and I think that watching TV will help me get my ears around the spoken language. I've tried watching the box, but everything I seem to come across is either dubbed US telly or just not very good. Can anyone recommend any French TV programmes I might enjoy watching?

TV I like: British & Irish comedy (spaced, black books, father ted, coupling...); clever US serials (west wing, 6 feet under, pushing daisies); some US comedy; detective stuff.

I'm not averse to buying DVDs, if there's any really good French telly that's not on right now but is available in that format. I've got about 150 TV channels (the standard AliceADSL package listed here, although some of them are not actually French). Film recommendations are good, but I'm more after serials and shorter things to get into after a hard day's coding.

Looking for kiddie music and music videos in French to use in school program...

JoannaC — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:38:33 -0800

French teacher looking for new stuff for the coming school year! Music, music videos etc. suitable for K-3. It's my third year and I have used a lot of my good stuff already. Hit me with your best kiddie French stuff! We do a music day every Friday which is the highlight of the week and which the kids greatly look forward to. I have been using Cds from Kidzup, Matt Maxwell and Charlotte Diamond. I teach a new song, we review previous ones, and then I close each music day with a video. At first, I was using clips of the musical numbers from Disney movies (in French) and the kids liked those. But they also have enjoyed some French ones with which they have no prior English experience. Some of the ones they have enjoyed have been (from YouTube) Pigloo and Bebe Lily. I am looking for more in this vein.

So...

Simple French songs I can teach (must be simple or repetitive, some of the kids are in JK/SK) and must have MP3's available for purchase on-line

Fun, repetitive, kid-oriented music videos to end the class with. These do not have to be ones they know in English. Cartoons are nice (Pigloo, Bebe Lilly). If there is a French version of Miley Cyrus, that would be super. I can use YouTube (i.e. there is a computer available while I am teaching)

Anyone?

I love you, fresh egg

chalbe — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:34:01 -0800

What cooking secrets take your food to the almost-pro level? I love food; making it, reading about it, eating it. I already do a few basics, like shopping the NYC Union Square farmers' market, using fresh leafy herbs and garlic, squeezing lemon juice, cooking meat the right temperature, adding enough salt + pepper, grating Parmigiano-Reggiano, etc. Even so, my cooking still tastes a little flat and two-dimensional.

What practices or ingredients do you use to elevate your cooking? Spice mixes? Marinades? I prefer answers that skew towards the complex-but-tasty and avoid processed goods. Bonus points if you are a professional cook or culinary school student.

To get us started, here are some ideas I've been wanting to try:
- Making brown veal stock and remoullage, for braising and sauces
- Making yogurt from scratch milk + starter
- Making herbed butter and herb-infused oils

What does "s'en fout la mort" mean?

Awkward Philip — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:38:39 -0800

What's the literal translation of the French film title "S'en fout la mort"? The English title is "No Fear, No Die," but I know enough French to know that that's not the actual translation. If it matters, in the movie, "S'en fout la mort" is a name given to a fighting cock.