La culture pop!

Carolyn Carlson: The American who revolutionised dance in France and the rest of Europe
She says she's not a dancer or a choreographer. Instead, our guest describes herself as a visual poet. Born in California, Carolyn Carlson became the reference for modern dance in France in the 1970s. Fifty years on, she’s still dancing. She’s created more than 100 pieces – many of them landmarks in the history of dance. With two touring shows "The Tree" and "Crossroads to Synchronicity", two exhibitions, masterclasses, poetry events, a book and featuring in documentaries, Carolyn Carlson tells Eve Jackson why she's still dancing at 80, how her creations are healing experiences and why the Mark Rothko exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Foundation is the must-see show this season.
French filmmakers warn that far-right cyber-raids are torpedoing their movies
French filmmaker Mehdi Fikri has accused far-right cyberactivists and TV pundits of scuppering the launch of his police violence drama “After the Fire”, reviving talk of the influence of online rating platforms and politicised commentators in shaping movies’ fortunes.
Singer-songwriter India Naia releases debut EP inspired by 2000s R'n'B
Singer-songwriter India Naia is of German-Algerian heritage and spent some of her childhood in France before moving to Florida, where she grew up listening to the "crème de la crème" of hip-hop and R'n'B. Several years ago she moved to Paris, where she began writing music. She popped by Arts 24 to tell Marjorie Hache about her debut EP "Globe". They also discuss Spotify's top artists for 2023 and new streaming rules, as well as new releases by Nicki Minaj and Neil Young.
The divine journey of South African soprano Pretty Yende
Born in South Africa during apartheid, Pretty Yende grew up singing hymns with her grandmother on the way to church. This past May she dazzled Westminster Abbey at the coronation of King Charles, cementing her status as one of the world's most sought-after sopranos. Yende says her journey is proof that nothing is impossible. Back in Paris for "The Tales of Hoffman" at the Opéra Bastille, she spoke to Alison Sargent about the joys of playing a doll, her love of singing in French and why "there's nothing as cool as opera".
Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer: 'Attitudes towards Indigenous people have gone backwards'
Australian director Rolf de Heer chats to Lisa Nesselson and Dheepthika Laurent about his first feature film in a decade, "The Survival of Kindness", which was shot in the Australian outback. Also: German director Wim Wenders' Japanese-language film "Perfect Days" shines a spotlight on a toilet cleaner and Disney's latest animation "Wish" comes out in France.
'Voguing cannot be co-opted': Choreographer Trajal Harrell on voguing going mainstream
American choreographer and dancer Trajal Harrell chats to Dheepthika Laurent about his career retrospective at Paris' Festival d'Automne. They also talk about voguing, the focus of his seminal eight year project, Twenty Looks or Paris is Burning at the Judson Church, and his current field of interest: Japanese dance style Butoh.
Ireland's Paul Lynch on winning 2023 Booker Prize with novel 'Prophet Song'
Irish writer Paul Lynch's Booker Prize-winning fifth novel is a timely and urgent book described as powerful, claustrophobic and horribly real, capturing the social and political anxieties of our time. The book is set in a dystopian Dublin in the grips of totalitarianism. Some of the themes of "Prophet Song" are eerily similar to the riots that broke out in Dublin last week. "Prophet Song" also echoes the violence in Palestine, Ukraine and Syria, and the experience of all those who flee from war-torn countries. The author speaks to FRANCE 24's culture editor Eve Jackson about winning the most prestigious literature prize in the English-speaking world, writing the Irish offspring of "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Nineteen Eighty-Four" – and what he's spending his prize money on.
Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' world tour hits cinemas worldwide
In this culture update, FRANCE 24's Jennifer Ben Brahim gives us a sneak peek of Beyoncé's concert film of her billion-dollar "Renaissance" tour. The film gives fans a glimpse of behind-the-scenes action and the best on-stage moments. Jennifer also tells us more about this year's Booker Prize winner – Irish author Paul Lynch – for his dystopian novel "Prophet Song".
Music show: Edouard Bielle sings about addictive love on debut EP 'Loverdose'
In this edition of arts24's weekly music show, Jennifer Ben Brahim is joined by French singer-songwriter Edouard Bielle. His look and sound takes us back to the 1970s, inspired by Christophe and Etienne Daho. He's just dropped his debut EP "Loverdose", a record that delves into the addictive nature of love. We talk about Edouard's love affair with Greece, which he demonstrates for us with a live performance of his track "Parikia", in both French and Greek! We also take a look at some other music news, such as Beyoncé's concert film "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé".
New film 'Wish' premieres in Paris to celebrate 100 years of Disney
As the team behind the latest magical Disney adventure "Wish" present their film in Paris, we're talking about 100 years of the biggest media company on the planet. We learn about Walt's French ancestry and how the name Disney came from two French words – D apostrophe Isigny – which was combined into Disney. Eve Jackson interviews the team behind the 62nd Disney movie, which is out in time for Christmas and comes from the creators of "Frozen". We hear from "Wish" directors Fawn Veerasunthorn and Chris Buck and the actress who plays main character Asha, "West Side Story" Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose.
Is Africa the world's next global fashion hub?
Togo's International Fashion Festival (FIMO), which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary in Lomé, has organised a catwalk show in Paris to promote African fashion. Jacques Logoh, FIMO's founder, is an outspoken advocate of fashion that's designed and produced on the African continent. A recent UNESCO report says that Africa is on course to be the world's next major fashion hub – on the condition that the industry receives sufficient state support. But that's by no means guaranteed. We take a closer look.
The French 'Mamma Mia!' musical on stage in Paris
In this edition of arts24, we discover the French version of the global smash hit musical seen by more than 65 million people and based on Abba's catchy tunes, which is on stage in Paris. Also on the programme, we visit the new queer, unapologetic and inclusive Paris exhibition of Austrian artists Jakob Lena Knebl & Ashley Hans Scheirl. Plus we investigate the growing cultural phenomenon of kidulting.
Film show: Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' reviewed
From Ridley Scott's epic about Napoleon to a film on the woman who brought the music of the tiny Cape Verde islands to a worldwide audience, join us for our film show with critic Lisa Nesselson and Ana Sofia Fonseca, the filmmaker behind the documentary "Césaria Evora — The Barefoot Diva".
Ridley Scott, Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby present 'Napoleon' to Paris
After "Alien", "Gladiator" and "Thelma and Louise", director Ridley Scott presents "Napoleon" to the French, with Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix in the title role and Vanessa Kirby as his Josephine. The filmmaker talks about his fascination with the brilliant and destructive emperor of France. From the final resting place of Napoleon, Paris's Military Museum, Eve Jackson tells us more about the film which, as well as a good few battle scenes, focuses on the love of his life. Vanessa Kirby talks about the challenges of playing his wife. Plus, French cinema darling Tahar Rahim, who plays Paul Barras – a general who helped Napoleon's ascent – discusses the historic significance of the film.
Jowee Omicil on his voodoo-infused and Haitian slave revolution-inspired new album
Our guest on this week's music show is jazz multi-instrumentalist Jowee Omicil, who spends much of his time between Paris, Miami and Montreal. He's about to release a new album entitled "Spiritual Healing: Bwa Kayiman Freedom Suite". The record is fully connected to his Haitian roots and represents a means to travel back in time to the slave revolution of 1791. We also discuss André 3000's flute-heavy new album, and take a listen to new releases by hip-hop royalty Busta Rhymes and France's Eddy De Pretto.
How to Have Sex: Explore sexual consent with British teens on holiday
British filmmaker Molly Manning Walker’s Cannes prize-winning debut film, “How to Have Sex”, has been released in France. Across the Channel, French actress and director Mélanie Laurent helms a new female action-comedy “Wingwomen”, out on Netflix while French filmmaker Claude Lelouch celebrates his 60 year-long career with nationwide retrospective cinema-shows.
TV series: Dodi Al-Fayed actor calls for Gaza ceasefire at 'The Crown' premiere in LA
From the premiere of the final, fateful season of “The Crown”, to an Indonesian period romance "Cigarette Girl" and a South Korean criminal justice drama "Vigilante" – It’s a very international month in the world of TV shows. Dheepthika Laurent speaks to Eve Jackson about the month’s new releases.
Film Show: The return of 'The Hunger Games'
From "The Hunger Games" prequel without Jennifer Lawrence to a hit American independent movie that knocked "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" off the top of the box office this summer – "Sound of Freedom" without forgetting the British debut feature "How to Have Sex", film critic Emma Jones discusses this week’s new pictures with Eve Jackson.
Madonna: The Queen of Pop wows Paris on The Celebration Tour
Culture Editor Eve Jackson reviews Madonna’s first night in Paris during her 78-date Celebration Tour. At 65 – she’s still got it – she totally blew the 20 thousand fans away in Paris’ Accor arena with a two and a half hour show that was an emotional journey through some of her biggest hits. She appeared on stage looking the best she has in years – and sounding it too.
World’s best pastry chef Nina Métayer: ‘We Need Cake!’
For the first time ever, the prize for the best pastry chef in the world has been awarded to a woman, Nina Métayer. She spoke to FRANCE 24's Eve Jackson about this historic event in the world of dessert and the importance of sweetness in our lives.
French indie pop “Blowsom” on upcoming album, Madonna in Paris and Dolly Parton goes rock
This week on Arts24, Marjorie Hache speaks to up and coming French pop artist Blowsom who has independently released two EPs and garnered millions of streams. We also catch up with American rock band Rival Sons who have released two albums this year and take a look at Queen Of Pop Madonna's opening Paris show and country royalty Dolly Parton's new album Rockstar.
Monet painting 'Le bassin aux nympheas' fetches $74 million at auction in New York
A painting of water lilies by French impressionist Claude Monet has sold for $74 million, as part of a lively fall art auction season.
Artist Antony Gormley: 'This exhibition is an audit on what it means to be alive today'
In this edition of Arts24, Eve Jackson speaks to one of the most popular and accoladed artists in the UK and beyond. Antony Gormley's sculptures are simple and accessible and scattered around the world, from cities to seashores. His 20-metre-high "Angel of the North" has for two decades gazed down upon 33 million yearly passersby in North East England and his installation of 40,000 tiny clay figures "Field for the British Isles" won him the world’s top art award, the Turner Prize, in 1994. The artist is in Paris for a show at the Rodin Museum called Critical Mass. He talks about the necessity of sculpture in the digital age, how he tries to make eco-conscious work and his thoughts about being a white, male, Cambridge-educated successful artist in 2023.
Ready-to-wear, spring/summer 2024: Three young designers capture the zeitgeist
In this edition we meet three up-and-coming fashion designers. Victor Weinsanto studied fashion in Paris before going on to work with Jean-Paul Gaultier. He later went on to found his own exuberant label, this year inviting his drag queen friends to model his latest collection. Meanwhile, Kevin Germanier wants to break with the bad habits of the past: he loves upcycling and breathing new life into old fabric. For Alain Paul, meanwhile, fashion is the work of marrying choreography and clothing to the human body.
'Crème de la crème:' Exploring the world of French pastry
To add a little sweetness to our week, on French Connections we're exploring how French pastry is evolving. From a female French baker being named the best pastry chef in the world to the origins of the "haute patisserie" trend, to how "pâte à choux" (choux pastry) got its name, we dive into this emblem of French culture. We also take a look at its not-so-sweet side: how many pastries are thought to be home-made but are not.
French actress Juliette Binoche on love, French gastronomy and 'Chocolat'
Oscar-winning French actress Juliette Binoche sits down with FRANCE 24 to talk about her new film, “The Taste of Things”, which is a love letter to French gastronomy. One of France's most accoladed actresses, she talks about acting opposite her ex-partner Benoit Magimel for the first time in 30 years. Binoche also reminisces about the foodie film that made her an international name, "Chocolat" with Johnny Depp.
Film show: France sends a delicious foodie movie to the Oscars
Film critic Lisa Nesselson and presenter Eve Jackson talk about the week's film news, including Juliette Binoche starring in historical foodie movie "The Taste of Things", also known as "The Pot-au-Feu". They also discuss the biopic of adventurous skilled navigator Florence Arthaud, as well as "Goodbye Julia", the first ever Sudanese film to be presented at the Cannes Film Festival, plus John Malkovich speaking French in "Complètement cramé !".
‘In the Rearview’: Filmmaker who drove hundreds to safety documents plight of Ukrainians
“In the Rearview”, about filmmaker Maciek Hamela’s efforts to rescue civilians stranded by war, is a gripping testimony to the plight of the millions of Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s invasion. As the award-winning documentary opens in French cinemas on Wednesday, its Polish director hopes it will remind viewers of what is at stake in Ukraine – and of the suffering of refugees from all conflicts.
Meet Jean-Baptiste Andrea, winner of France's prestigious Goncourt Prize
French author Jean-Baptiste Andrea has won this year's Goncourt, France's most prestigious literary award, for his novel "Veiller sur elle" ("Watch Over Her"), a love story set in fascist-era Italy. He spoke to FRANCE 24's Clovis Casali about the political dimension of his work. We also take a look back at the history of the Goncourt, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary.
France's top book prize goes to epic love story set in Italy
France's top literary prize, the Goncourt, has been awarded to "Veiller sur elle" by Jean-Baptiste Andrea, published by Iconoclaste. The American Library in Paris's Programs Manager Emilie Biggs joins Eve Jackson to talk about the book, whose title translates as "Watch Over Her" and the significance of the prize. We also visit the new chateau museum, the "Cité Internationale de la langue Francaise", dedicated to French language and culture just outside Paris. Plus we bring you a sneak preview of the latest big screen adaptation of the iconic 16th-century literary work by Alexandre Dumas, "The Three Musketeers".