Philip “The Fortunate” (1328-1350) The House of Valois begins with Philip of Valois, or Philip VI (“The Fortunate”), who marks an underwhelming start to a new dynasty. Per John Julius Norwich, “The Capetians had been on the whole excellent kings. They had steadily built up France, transforming it from a…
Tag: french
The Story of French Impressionism, Part I: Édouard Manet
In contrast to the bold, triumphant, and defined political works of earlier European painters, like Eugene Delacroix for example, the Impressionists were a more muted, subtle group of less defined painters, at least conventional wisdom instructs us so. The Impressionists give us only a glimpse of something, a passing blurred…
Coeur fidèle (1923) Film Review
Coeur fidèle (Faithful Heart) (1923) Director: Jean Epstein ★★★★☆ Coeur fidèle (Faithful Heart) is a beautiful, reflective French Impressionist film which introduces a sobering cinematic language created by French auteur Jean Epstein. Jean Epstein once said: its purpose was “to win the confidence of those, still so numerous, who believe that…
J’accuse (1919) Film Review
J’accuse (1919) Director: Abel Gance ★★★★★ Like other films in Abel Gance’s incredible silent film repertoire, J’accuse is a grandiose achievement. The contemporary edited-down version lasts nearly three hours, but the original was 14 reels long and Gance shot much of the harrowing footage on location in World War I…