For more than a 100 years the French government has been working on promoting visual arts, music, performing arts, architecture as well as the French language in foreign countries in the form of "French Institutes" commonly known as Alliance Française (which btw I've had the chance to work for in New Zealand) or Centre Culturel Français. With more than 150 Institutes and 1000 Alliance Françaises around the world, it is no mystery that we, French people are committed to showing to the world how great we are.
In Jakarta we are blessed with an amazingly active and dynamic Centre Cultural Français. We all know by now that Jakarta isn't the most attractive place there is and it can often be very difficult to talk artists into coming to the City of Traffic. Yet our local CCF has succeeded in convincing (among many more) Yann Tiersen, the Chopin Orchestra, Louis Bertignac, Java, Nouvelle Vague, DJ Wax Tailor.. to perform.
This month and for the 16 consecutive year in a row the CCF is happy to present the 2011 Festival Sinema Perancis (French Movie Festival) in partnership with the the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism. With more than 15 French movies to choose from my friend Laetita and I opted for La fille du RER, La Danse, le Ballet de l'Opera de Paris, Les Mains en l'Air and Une Petite Zone de Turbulence.
Lastly, I would like to thank the CCF as well as Philippe Zeller, French Ambassador in Jakarta for their work and effort and most importantly for contributing to the well-being of the French expats in Jakarta. Personally I see these events as a real breath of fresh air in a city where oxygen has become almost.. a privilege.
Love C-.
