FRENCH CINEMA Jean Grémillon and the Poetry of Realism at the National Gallery of Art JANUARY 19, 20 & 26

FRENCH CINEMA Jean Grémillon and the Poetry of Realism at the National Gallery of Art JANUARY 19, 20 & 26
	Dear Friends of La Maison Française, This month, the National Gallery of Art will screen five films by Jean Grémillon. (details below) 1) Gueule d’amour (1937) 2) Maldone (1927) -- Ciné-concert 3) Lumière d'été (1943) -- Restoration première 4) Le Ciel est à vous (1943) 5) Remorques (1941) One of the forgotten figures of mid-century French cinéma, Jean Grémillon (1901-1959) entered filmmaking as a musician for silent films. He developed into a director, making his mark in poetic realism. This series presents five of his most beautifully crafted works.
1) Saturday, January 19 (2pm) - Gueule d’amour at the National Gallery of Art, East Building Concourse Auditorium 4th Street at Pennsylvania Ave., NW In French with English subtitles Jean Gabin — blue-collar provincial army hero known as “lover lips” among the ladies — meets his match in Parisian femme fatale Mireille Balin. Completely besotted, he gives up his career for her, opting for a life of obsessive self-reproach. ADMISSION: Free MORE INFO: www.nga.gov/programs/film/gremillon.shtm 2) Saturday, January 19 (4pm) - Maldone -- Ciné-concert / Andrew Simpson, piano at the National Gallery of Art, East Building Concourse Auditorium 4th Street at Pennsylvania Ave., NW French intertitles translated live A rarely screened early feature, Maldone’s location shooting, bold camera, superimpositions, experimental angles and clever cutting mark it stylistically as one of the more sophisticated films of the late silent era. The narrative centers on Olivier Maldone (Charles Dullin, well-known man of the theater), a carefree field hand and vagabond, given a chance to enjoy the life of a landowner through marriage. Eventually, he finds real love in the carnal snare of a gypsy called Zita, and abandons the bourgeois life. ADMISSION: Free MORE INFO: www.nga.gov/programs/film/gremillon.shtm 3) Sunday, January 20 (4pm) - Lumière d'été / Summer Light -- American première of the restoration at the National Gallery of Art, East Building Concourse Auditorium 4th Street at Pennsylvania Ave., NW In French with English subtitles The characters in Lumière d'été (Summer Light), meeting for relaxation in a remote mountain chateau, begin a mad romantic roundelay that ends in a bizarre masked ball. The suggestion of class prejudices within the group—bourgeois characters seem undesirable while the working-classes shine—infuriated the Vichy censors who suppressed the film. "Lumière d'été is not only Grémillon's most overtly political film, it is arguably his finest technical achievement"—James Travers. ADMISSION: Free MORE INFO: www.nga.gov/programs/film/gremillon.shtm 4) Saturday, January 26 (2pm) - Le Ciel est à vous / The Sky is Yours at the National Gallery of Art, East Building Concourse Auditorium 4th Street at Pennsylvania Ave., NW In French with English subtitles Le Ciel est à vous’s (The Sky is Yours) unusual feminist perspective flew in the face of the Vichy government’s decree for women to stay home and raise children. Thérèse Gauthier (Madeleine Renaud) is a free spirit who rules her husband and ignores her children. Her main ambition is to break the solo flying record for women. ADMISSION: Free MORE INFO: www.nga.gov/programs/film/gremillon.shtm 5) Saturday, January 26 (4pm) - Remorques at the National Gallery of Art, East Building Concourse Auditorium 4th Street at Pennsylvania Ave., NW In French with English subtitles The primal power of l’amour fou is measured against that other out-of-control force of nature, the waters of the sea. Off the Britanny coast, Jean Gabin, captain of a salvage tugboat, meets Michèle Morgan whom he rescues, one ill-omened stormy night. They become lovers, trapped in a painful triangle with Gabin’s delicate and devoted wife (Madeleine Renaud). Grémillon, who uses the sea metaphor to full effect, also exploits the potential of music and sound, dramatically adding to the edgy mise-en-scène, especially in the final sequence. ADMISSION: Free MORE INFO: www.nga.gov/programs/film/gremillon.shtm We hope that you can make it to the National Gallery of Art for these special screenings! Please also take the time to scroll down and discover some of the upcoming cultural events happening at the Embassy of France! Warm regards, La Maison Française www.HouseofFranceDC.org P.S. Click HERE to take a survey on a proposed new French bookstore in New York City!

Intouchables (The Intouchables) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 AT 8PM

La Cinémathèque @ the Avalon Intouchables (The Intouchables) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 AT 8PM
	Dear Friends of La Maison Française, This Wednesday, January 16 at 8 p.m., the Avalon Theatre will screen the heartwarming, award-winning Intouchables (The Intouchables), directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache. Based on a true story of friendship, this irreverent, uplifting comedy, rooted in honesty and humor, broke box office records in France and Europe. The Intouchables takes us on a journey with two individuals who would seem to have nothing in common - a handicapped millionaire (Francois Cluzet) and his street-smart, ex-con caretaker (Omar Sy). Nominated for nine César Awards and winning Best Actor for the superb performance by newcomer Omar Sy, The Intouchables also won the Grand Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival as well as audience awards at numerous other film festivals around the world. Watch the trailer (In French with English subtitles): www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7g_OjLKeZ4
Presented with the generous support of: WHAT: Intouchables (The Intouchables) - details below In French with English subtitles WHEN: Wednesday, January 16 at 8:00 p.m. WHERE: The Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW ADMISSION: $11.50 / Seniors: $8.75 / Students: $9 / Members: $7.25 TICKETS ONLINE: http://boxoffice.printtixusa.com/avalon/movies MORE INFO: www.theavalon.org/programs-events/french-cinematheque/ We look forward to seeing you for this edition of La Cinémathèque @ The Avalon Theatre! Please also take the time to scroll down and discover some of the upcoming cultural events happening at the Embassy of France! Warm regards, La Maison Française www.HouseofFranceDC.org P.S. Click HERE to take a survey on a proposed new French bookstore in New York City! ============== D E T A I L S ============== Intouchables (The Intouchables) France — 2011 — 112 min. — 35mm Directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache Cast: François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot In French with English subtitles S Y N O P S I S An irreverent, uplifting comedy about friendship, trust and human possibility, The Intouchables has broken box office records in France and across Europe. Based on a true story of friendship between a handicap millionaire (Francois Cluzet) and his street smart ex-con caretaker (Omar Sy), The Intouchables depicts an unlikely camaraderie rooted in honesty and humor between two individuals who, on the surface, would seem to have nothing in common. Directed by Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, the film was nominated for a total of nine 2012 César Awards, France's equivalent to the Oscars, including Best Picture, and won Best Actor for breakout star Omar Sy. The film also won the Grand Prize at the 2011 Tokyo International Film Festival.The film has received Audience Awards from U.S. film festivals including the San Francisco Film Festival, COL COA, and the Nashville Film Festival. P R E S S "An exuberantly charming French buddy comedy... superbly crafted" — USA Today "A perfect star vehicle for Omar Sy... who makes Driss an unstoppable life force." — The Wall Street Journal T R A I L E R (In French with English subtitles) www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7g_OjLKeZ4
U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S at La Maison Française, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY!
TUES, FEB 12 AT 7:00PM: Screening of "Angèle et Tony" - FILM Angèle, a beautiful young woman with a past, arrives in a small fishing harbor in Normandy. She meets Tony, a professional fisherman, who finds himself attracted to her although he dislikes her blunt ways. Tony hires her as a fishmonger, lodges her and teaches her the tricks of the trade. The relationships between Tony's mother and Angèle are far from easy but the young woman gradually adapts to her new environment and little by little Tony and Angèle manage to tame each other... MORE INFO / TICKETS TUES, FEB 26 AT 7:30PM: Percussions Claviers de Lyon - CONCERT With a dizzyingly varied repertoire that spans Bach to Ravel to Zappa and back again, Percussions Claviers de Lyon are five passionate and demanding musicians who have succeeded in maintaining an ensemble dedicated solely to percussion keyboard instruments — marimbas, vibraphones, and xylophones. This ensemble explores and surpasses genres, forms, and techniques, continually surprising and engaging their audiences. MORE INFO / TICKETS THUR, MARCH 21 AT 7:30PM: Court-Circuit - CONCERT In French, “court-circuit” refers to a “short circuit” — and while this electrical mishap usually indicates that something has gone awry, for Ensemble Court-Circuit, it instead encompasses a charged flow of artistic adventurousness that surveys the boundaries of contemporary music. Founded in 1991 by Philippe Hurel and Pierre-André Valade and composed entirely of virtuoso musicians, Ensemble Court-Circuit was quickly recognized as one of Europe’s most outstanding new music ensembles. MORE INFO / TICKETS FRI, APR 12 AT 7:30PM: Christophe Rousset, harpsichord - CONCERT A renowned harpsichordist, conductor, and expert of all things Baroque, Christophe Rousset has gained the intriguing reputation of a musical archaeologist who proclaims that “there is no greater feeling than to revive works that have never been heard for centuries.” MORE INFO / TICKETS

J-Film: Shodo Girls!

Presented by the JICC, Embassy of Japan and the Japan Commerce Association of Washington, D.C. J-Film: Shodo Girls! © NTV Wednesday, January 23rd @ 6:30 pm

When Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:30 PM Add to Calendar Where JICC, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th St., NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20036 Driving Directions

In Shikoku Chuo City in Ehime Prefecture, which boasts the highest output of calligraphy paper, the ancient art of calligraphy has always been a formal and traditional practice. However, after a group of high school students see their beloved hometown gradually decline in prosperity, they decide to host a calligraphy performance contest in an attempt to restore the city's former vitality. As they dance around on paper to pop music and use large brushes to write, students compete against each other to determine who has the best calligraphy performance skills. Based on a true story about a group of students from Ehime Mishima High School, Shodo Girls! tells a tale of hope as youthful vigor meets ancient art. The calligraphy performance contest has since become a tradition in the region and was held for the fifth time in 2012.  Japanese with English Subtitles | Not Rated | 120 min | 2010 | Directed by Ryuichi Inomata   This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis.   Doors open at 6:00pm. No admission or re-entry after 7:00pm.   Register Now!

The Embassy of the Czech Republic will launch a retrospective of films by Oscar-winning Czech director Jiří Menzel at the local Czech restaurant Bistro Bohem on January 15, at 7 pm.

INVITATION:

The Embassy of the Czech Republic will launch a retrospective of films by Oscar-winning Czech director Jiří Menzel at the local Czech restaurant Bistro Bohem on January 15, at 7 pm. The series begins with the film Pearls of the Deep (Perličky na dně), featuring the work of the acclaimed director and his Czech New Wave colleagues. Enjoy delicious Czech cuisine while watching Czech films.

 

Location:
Bistro Bohem
600 Florida Ave., Washington, DC
www.bistrobohem.com

Pearls of the Deep (Perličky na dně) 1965, 115 minutes, Czech with English subtitles Five directors teamed up for this film that strings together five short stories from a collection of writings by Bohumil Hrabal. "Mr. Baltazar's Death," made when Jiří Menzel was still a student, follows a family that has a strange obsession for accidents to a motorcycle race. Jan Němec directs "The Imposters" about two old men in a hospital who embellish their younger days, boasting of their professional accomplishments. In Evald Schorm's "The House Of Joy," two insurance salesmen pay a visit to an eccentric painter. In "The Restaurant the World," directed by Věra Chytilová, a young woman's body is found at a wedding celeration. The final feature, "Romance" directed by Jaromír Jireš, involves a young man having an affair with a gypsy woman. The feature marks the emergence of five young directors who were part of the boom of the Czech New Wave during the 1960s. For additional background information on the film, please visit: http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/2269-eclipse-series-32-pearls-of-the-czech-new-wave.   About Jiří Menzel: Jiří Menzel is an award-winning director, screenwriter, actor, and theater director. He studied filmmaking at the famous Czech National Film Academy, FAMU, in Prague. Like Forman, he was one of the leaders of the Czech New Wave. Most notably, Menzel won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for his first feature-length film Closely Watched Trains (Ostře sledované vlaky, 1967). With the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact forces in 1968, and the period of so-called ‘normalization’ that followed, he was one of the first directors to be barred from filmmaking. Menzel’s controversial film Larks on a String (Skřivánci na niti, 1969) was banned by the government, but released twenty years later, in 1990, after the collapse of the communist regime. The film won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival. In 1986, his film My Sweet Little Village (Vesničko má středisková, 1985) was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film (1987). Other renowned works include Capricious Summer (Rozmarné léto, 1968), Cutting It Short (Postřižiny, 1981) and most recently I Serve the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále, 2006). Menzel is a member of the Czech Film and Television Academy, the European Film Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has received many prestigious awards, among them the French order of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and the Akira Kurosawa Prize for a lifetime’s achievement at the San Francisco Film Festival.    About the Czech New Wave: The Czech New Wave was an artistic movement of the 1960s, hailed as the “golden era” in Czechoslovakia's cinematic history boasting some of the most attractive films produced in Europe. The core of the New Wave was comprised of recent graduates of the Film and Television Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) in Prague, who made their debuts in or around 1963 and continued to produce internationally acclaimed work throughout most of the decade. Prominent Czech directors include Miloš Forman, who directed Black Peter (Černý Petr, 1963), Loves of a Blonde (Lásky jedné plavovlásky, 1965) and The Firemen's Ball (Hoří, má panenko, 1967); Věra Chytilová who is best known for her film Daisies; and Jiří Menzel, whose film Closely Watched Trains (Ostře sledované vlaky, 1966) won an academy award for best foreign language film.

Jiří Menzel Retrospective All screenings start at 7 pm.   January 15 Pearls of the Deep Perličky na dně   February 19 Closely Watched Trains Ostře sledované vlaky   March 19 *Those Wonderful Movie Cranks Báječní muži s klikou   April 16 Larks on a String Skřivánci na niti   May 21 Capricious Summer Rozmarné léto   June 18 *I Served the King of England Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále   July 16 *Crime in a Music Hall Zločin v šantánu   August 20 *Who Looks for Gold Kdo hledá zlaté dno   September 17 Cutting It Short Postřižiny   October 15 The Snowdrop Festival Slavnosti sněženek   November 19 Seclusion Near a Forest Na samotě u lesa   December 17 My Sweet Little Village Vesničko má středisková   *These films will be screened in Czech. All others will be screened with English subtitles.

La Cinémathèque @ La Maison Française: Populaire

La Cinémathèque @ La Maison Française Populaire TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 AT 7PM
	Dear Friends of La Maison Française, On Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m., La Cinémathèque @ La Maison Française will screen Régis Roinsard’s Populaire. From the producers of such French favorites as Le concert / The Concert (2009), Les petits mouchoirs / Little White Lies (2010), and OSS 117 (2006), comes this romantic comedy starring Romain Duris (L’arnacoeur / Heartbreaker - 2010), Déborah François (Le premier jour du reste de ta vie / The First Day of the Rest of Your Life - 2008) and Oscar nominee Bérénice Bejo (The Artist – 2011). Set in 1958, this entertaining film – already a classic – takes us on the journey of a secretary, whose lightning speed on the typewriter catapults her into the international spotlight and opens the door to romance! P R E S S "Somehow managing to combine the peppiness of a Doris Day with the sulky intensity of a Noomi Rapace, Deborah Francois is a revelation." — DailyScreen
Watch the trailer (in French): www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6xo2W-DHs WHAT: Populaire - details below In French with English Subtitles WHEN: Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. WHERE: Embassy of France - 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW ADMISSION: General: $8; Seniors/Students: $5 - reservations required RESERVATIONS: www.cinematheque15jan2013.eventbrite.com/ Presented with the generous support of: We look forward to seeing you for this edition of La Cinémathèque! Please also take the time to scroll down and discover more upcoming cultural events happening at the Embassy of France! Warm regards, La Maison Française www.HouseofFranceDC.org
=========== D E T A I L S =========== Populaire France — 2012 — 111 min. Directed by Régis Roinsard Cast: Romain Duris, Déborah François, Bérénice Bejo In French with English Subtitles Synopsis Spring 1958. 21-year-old Rose Pamphyle lives with her grouchy widower father who runs the village store. Engaged to the son of the local mechanic, she seems destined for the quiet, drudgery-filled life of a housewife. But that’s not the life Rose longs for. When she travels to Lisieux in Normandy, where charismatic insurance agency boss Louis Echard is advertising for a secretary, the ensuing interview is a disaster. But Rose reveals a special gift - she can type at extraordinary speed. Unwittingly, the young woman awakens the dormant sports fan in Louis. If she wants the job she’ll have to compete in a speed typing competition. Whatever sacrifices Rose must make to reach the top, Louis declares himself her trainer. He’ll turn her into the fastest girl not only in the country, but in the world! But a love for sport doesn’t always mix well with love itself... Press "Somehow managing to combine the peppiness of a Doris Day with the sulky intensity of a Noomi Rapace, Deborah Francois is a revelation." — DailyScreen Watch the trailer (In French): www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6xo2W-DHs U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S at La Maison Française, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY!
TUES, JAN 15 AT 7:00PM: Screening of "Populaire" - FILM From the producers of such French favorites as "Le concert / The Concert" (2009), "Les petits mouchoirs / Little White Lies" (2010), and "OSS 117" (2006), comes "Populaire" - a romantic comedy starring Romain Duris, Déborah François, and Oscar nominee Bérénice Bejo. Set in 1958, this entertaining film takes us on the journey of a secretary, whose lightning speed on the typewriter catapults her into the international spotlight and opens the door to romance! MORE INFO / TICKETS TUES, FEB 12 AT 7:00PM: Screening of "Angèle et Tony" - FILM Angèle, a beautiful young woman with a past, arrives in a small fishing harbor in Normandy. She meets Tony, a professional fisherman, who finds himself attracted to her although he dislikes her blunt ways. Tony hires her as a fishmonger, lodges her and teaches her the tricks of the trade. The relationships between Tony's mother and Angèle are far from easy but the young woman gradually adapts to her new environment and little by little Tony and Angèle manage to tame each other... MORE INFO / TICKETS TUES, FEB 26 AT 7:30PM: Percussions Claviers de Lyon - CONCERT With a dizzyingly varied repertoire that spans Bach to Ravel to Zappa and back again, Percussions Claviers de Lyon are five passionate and demanding musicians who have succeeded in maintaining an ensemble dedicated solely to percussion keyboard instruments — marimbas, vibraphones, and xylophones. This ensemble explores and surpasses genres, forms, and techniques, continually surprising and engaging their audiences. MORE INFO / TICKETS THUR, MARCH 21 AT 7:30PM: Court-Circuit - CONCERT In French, “court-circuit” refers to a “short circuit” — and while this electrical mishap usually indicates that something has gone awry, for Ensemble Court-Circuit, it instead encompasses a charged flow of artistic adventurousness that surveys the boundaries of contemporary music. Founded in 1991 by Philippe Hurel and Pierre-André Valade and composed entirely of virtuoso musicians, Ensemble Court-Circuit was quickly recognized as one of Europe’s most outstanding new music ensembles. MORE INFO / TICKETS FRI, APR 12 AT 7:30PM: Christophe Rousset, harpsichord - CONCERT A renowned harpsichordist, conductor, and expert of all things Baroque, Christophe Rousset has gained the intriguing reputation of a musical archaeologist who proclaims that “there is no greater feeling than to revive works that have never been heard for centuries.” MORE INFO / TICKETS

La Cinémathèque @ La Maison Française Populaire

La Cinémathèque @ La Maison Française Populaire TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 AT 7PM
	Dear Friends of La Maison Française, On Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m., La Cinémathèque @ La Maison Française will screen Régis Roinsard’s Populaire. From the producers of such French favorites as Le concert / The Concert (2009), Les petits mouchoirs / Little White Lies (2010), and OSS 117 (2006), comes this romantic comedy starring Romain Duris (L’arnacoeur / Heartbreaker - 2010), Déborah François (Le premier jour du reste de ta vie / The First Day of the Rest of Your Life - 2008) and Oscar nominee Bérénice Bejo (The Artist – 2011). Set in 1958, this entertaining film – already a classic – takes us on the journey of a secretary, whose lightning speed on the typewriter catapults her into the international spotlight and opens the door to romance! P R E S S "Somehow managing to combine the peppiness of a Doris Day with the sulky intensity of a Noomi Rapace, Deborah Francois is a revelation." — DailyScreen
Watch the trailer (in French): www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6xo2W-DHs WHAT: Populaire - details below In French with English Subtitles WHEN: Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. WHERE: Embassy of France - 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW ADMISSION: General: $8; Seniors/Students: $5 - reservations required RESERVATIONS: www.cinematheque15jan2013.eventbrite.com/ Presented with the generous support of: We look forward to seeing you for this edition of La Cinémathèque! Please also take the time to scroll down and discover more upcoming cultural events happening at the Embassy of France! Warm regards, La Maison Française www.HouseofFranceDC.org
=========== D E T A I L S =========== Populaire France — 2012 — 111 min. Directed by Régis Roinsard Cast: Romain Duris, Déborah François, Bérénice Bejo In French with English Subtitles Synopsis Spring 1958. 21-year-old Rose Pamphyle lives with her grouchy widower father who runs the village store. Engaged to the son of the local mechanic, she seems destined for the quiet, drudgery-filled life of a housewife. But that’s not the life Rose longs for. When she travels to Lisieux in Normandy, where charismatic insurance agency boss Louis Echard is advertising for a secretary, the ensuing interview is a disaster. But Rose reveals a special gift - she can type at extraordinary speed. Unwittingly, the young woman awakens the dormant sports fan in Louis. If she wants the job she’ll have to compete in a speed typing competition. Whatever sacrifices Rose must make to reach the top, Louis declares himself her trainer. He’ll turn her into the fastest girl not only in the country, but in the world! But a love for sport doesn’t always mix well with love itself... Press "Somehow managing to combine the peppiness of a Doris Day with the sulky intensity of a Noomi Rapace, Deborah Francois is a revelation." — DailyScreen Watch the trailer (In French): www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p6xo2W-DHs U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S at La Maison Française, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW RESERVE YOUR SEATS TODAY!
TUES, JAN 15 AT 7:00PM: Screening of "Populaire" - FILM From the producers of such French favorites as "Le concert / The Concert" (2009), "Les petits mouchoirs / Little White Lies" (2010), and "OSS 117" (2006), comes "Populaire" - a romantic comedy starring Romain Duris, Déborah François, and Oscar nominee Bérénice Bejo. Set in 1958, this entertaining film takes us on the journey of a secretary, whose lightning speed on the typewriter catapults her into the international spotlight and opens the door to romance! MORE INFO / TICKETS TUES, FEB 12 AT 7:00PM: Screening of "Angèle et Tony" - FILM Angèle, a beautiful young woman with a past, arrives in a small fishing harbor in Normandy. She meets Tony, a professional fisherman, who finds himself attracted to her although he dislikes her blunt ways. Tony hires her as a fishmonger, lodges her and teaches her the tricks of the trade. The relationships between Tony's mother and Angèle are far from easy but the young woman gradually adapts to her new environment and little by little Tony and Angèle manage to tame each other... MORE INFO / TICKETS TUES, FEB 26 AT 7:30PM: Percussions Claviers de Lyon - CONCERT With a dizzyingly varied repertoire that spans Bach to Ravel to Zappa and back again, Percussions Claviers de Lyon are five passionate and demanding musicians who have succeeded in maintaining an ensemble dedicated solely to percussion keyboard instruments — marimbas, vibraphones, and xylophones. This ensemble explores and surpasses genres, forms, and techniques, continually surprising and engaging their audiences. MORE INFO / TICKETS THUR, MARCH 21 AT 7:30PM: Court-Circuit - CONCERT In French, “court-circuit” refers to a “short circuit” — and while this electrical mishap usually indicates that something has gone awry, for Ensemble Court-Circuit, it instead encompasses a charged flow of artistic adventurousness that surveys the boundaries of contemporary music. Founded in 1991 by Philippe Hurel and Pierre-André Valade and composed entirely of virtuoso musicians, Ensemble Court-Circuit was quickly recognized as one of Europe’s most outstanding new music ensembles. MORE INFO / TICKETS FRI, APR 12 AT 7:30PM: Christophe Rousset, harpsichord - CONCERT A renowned harpsichordist, conductor, and expert of all things Baroque, Christophe Rousset has gained the intriguing reputation of a musical archaeologist who proclaims that “there is no greater feeling than to revive works that have never been heard for centuries.” MORE INFO / TICKETS

Zdeněk David, senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, will present the lecture Masaryk, Havel, and the Republic at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, followed by a screening of the film Václav Havel, Prague - Castle.

Invitation:

On January 17, at 6:30 pm, Zdeněk David, senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, will present the lecture Masaryk, Havel, and the Republic at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, followed by a screening of the film Václav Havel, Prague - Castle.

Light refreshments will be served at the event. | Admission is free.

Location: Embassy of the Czech Republic
3900 Spring of Freedom Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008

RSVP by January 15: czech_events@yahoo.com | 202/274-9105
Please put “lecture” in the subject line.

Lecture: Masaryk, Havel, and the Republic Havel and Masaryk did not fully agree on the source of the spiritual purpose governing the world and humanity, yet they both affirmed the existence of such a power and saw its global manifestation in democracy and humanitarianism. Havel’s approach was more metaphysical, Masaryk’s empirical. As much as we can distinguish the philosophical differences between the two men, we can also see them linked together in a long historical continuum. If it was Masaryk’s place in history to be the initiator of Czech independence, it was Havel’s destiny to be its revivifying force. Above all, both of them saw their crucial mission in using their high office to proclaim the ideals of universalism, democracy, and humanitarianism, and to seek a realization of these ideals in the world community. The lecture commemorates the 95th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia.   Zdeněk David Zdenĕk V. David is a senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he served as a librarian from 1974 to 2002. Earlier, having received a Ph.D. degree in History from Harvard in 1960, he taught Russian and East European history at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and at Princeton. His recent publications include two monographs: Finding the Middle Way: The Utraquists’ Liberal Challenge to Rome and Luther (Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press; Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003), and Realism, Tolerance, and Liberalism in the Czech National Awakening: Legacies of the Bohemian Reformation (Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press; Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010). The former has appeared in a revised Czech edition as Nalezení střední cesty. Liberální výzva utrakvistů Římu a Lutherovi (Prague: Filosofia, 2012). He is currently working on a manuscript, Thomas G. Masaryk, a Scholar and a Statesman: Philosophical Background of His Political Views. He served as secretary general of SVU from 2006 to 2012, mainly helping to organize the academic programs of SVU Congresses and Conferences, as well as helping to edit the ensuing collections of papers for publication.

Film: Václav Havel, Prague - Castle

Director Petr Jančárek’s documentary Václav Havel, Prague - Castle explores the earliest days of Václav Havel's presidency, as told by members of Havel's inner circle and the playwright himself, including the arrival of his team to Prague Castle in the wake of the turbulent 1989 elections and his historic speech to the U.S. Congress. Havel and his advisors' immediate goal was to lead the country to its first free elections as quickly as possible. (2009, 57 minutes, Czech with English subtitles)

The film screening honors the 20th anniversary of the independent Czech Republic.

 

Korean Film: Hearty Paws

Hearty Paws 마음이   Thursdays, January 10 & 24 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm Eleven-year-old Chan-i (Yoo Seung-ho) and his younger sister So-i (Kim Hyang-gi) are a family. Abandoned by their single mother, they struggle to get by but also find ways to enjoy the simple joy in life. Their "adopted" puppy - named Ma-eum, or Heart - brings a new sense of love and happiness to their small family, as well as a deep loyalty that will outlast even the greatest possible tragedy. Directed by Park Eun-hyung and Oh Dal-kyun, Hearty Paws (2006), also known by the title Heart Is..., struck a chord with Korean audiences for its combination of cuteness and tugging heartstrings, leading to future successes for its two young lead actors.   Watch the theatrical trailer at AsianWiki.com.  In Korean with English subtitles; 97 minutes. Doors open at 6 pm for a pre-show reception with Korean snacks! The film will begin promptly at 6:30 pm.    RSVP FOR THIS EVENT!  Upcoming & Local Events* Hanbok Fashion Show and International Exhibition Korean Cultural Center Opening Event: Friday, January 11, 2013 Join us for a special event exploring contemporary and traditional Hanbok fashion, including an exhibition of 50 Hanbok creations by 22 Korean designers, a narrated fashion show, guest lecture on the history of Korean pop culture, and fashion scarf and handbag craft demonstrations! Details & RSVP here. Cranes & Clouds:  The Korean Art of Ceramic Inlay Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution Featuring a variety of Korea's most stunning ceramics from the  Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, and an exploration of the ancient techniques used to craft them since the 10th century. For more information, visit the Freer's website here. Also be sure to check out the National History Museum's acclaimed Korea Gallery. *Upcoming and local events are not necessarily sponsored by or affiliated with the Korean Cultural Center. Know of an upcoming Korea-related event? Email AWOJ@koreaembassy.org to let us know.        The Korean Cultural Center at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, also known as KORUS House, is dedicated to promoting Korean culture and strengthening Korea-US ties through a variety of exhibitions, presentations, educational programs, partnerships, and support for local events in the Capital area. KORUS House also distributes free informational materials about Korea and manages  www.KoreaCultureDC.org. Walk-in guests are welcome Monday to Friday, 9 am to noon and 1:30 to 5:30 pm.  Welcome to the Washington DC Korean Cultural Center's events newsletter. You can adjust your email settings via the link at the bottom this email. Join our newsletter  & mailing list! Follow us:        Recent News KoreaCultureDC.org Korea.net Former soccer coach named PR ambassador for PyeongChang Special Olympics Park Geun-hye elected Korea's first woman president      Korea's winter hits record lows  Keywords in Korean economic history      Snow and Winter Trekking to Seonjaryeong, Pyeongchang   World Heritage sites lying between Seoul's skyscrapers  Read the latest issue of KOREA Magazine and more via Korea.net Korean Cultural Center Washington DC   2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington D.C. 20008 Map Public Hours: Monday - Friday 9am-noon & 2-5:30 pm *except national holidays