Experts squabble over Géricault exhibition at the Musée de la Vie romantique

The attribution of certain unpublished works, displayed at the Paris exhibition 'Géricault's Horses,' is hotly contested.

Published yesterday at 1:59 am (Paris), updated yesterday at 2:30 pm Roxana Azimi

Selection

The five best baguettes in the Paris region

These addresses follow the traditional French baguette recipe to a T. With honeycombed crumb, crisp crust and a subtle, sourdough taste, it's a treat from morning to night.

Published on June 8, 2024, at 7:33 pm (Paris) Gilbert Pytel

Review

'Under Paris': The new 'Jaws' in freshwater

A celebration of Paris' river police brigade, Netflix's new feature movie turns a monster shark attack into a moment of truth for the capital's mayor, on the eve of a triathlon.

Published on June 7, 2024, at 1:37 am (Paris), updated on June 7, 2024, at 9:55 am Thomas Sotinel

Background

The crazy story of the lost Caravaggio, now on display at the Prado

The painting by the Italian artist attracted the attention of collectors worldwide after being discovered in an auction catalogue listed for €1,500.

Published on June 6, 2024, at 5:03 am (Paris), updated on June 6, 2024, at 6:27 pm Sandrine Morel

News

French artist Ben dies by suicide after wife's death

The artist, best known for his painted slogans, has died aged 88. He was associated with the Fluxus movement of the 1960s that sought to disrupt what counted as art, with a style of street-based, provocative irony that proved highly influential.

Published on June 6, 2024, at 1:46 am (Paris), updated on June 6, 2024, at 9:34 am Le Monde with AFP

News

At 6 am on June 6, 1944, Robert Capa landed on Omaha Beach and scored the scoop of the century

The story behind Capa's mythical photographs has evolved in recent years, without in any way diminishing the feat.

Published on June 5, 2024, at 5:32 pm (Paris), updated on June 6, 2024, at 9:36 am Michel Lefebvre

In Depth

Why are some Taylor Swift fans reporting post-concert amnesia?

Known as 'transient global amnesia,' this not-so-rare phenomenon has been described in connection with emotionally-charged events.

Published on June 4, 2024, at 2:18 pm (Paris), updated on June 4, 2024, at 4:41 pm Ynès Khoudi

News analysis

How France and Hollywood adapted D-Day to the big screen

D-Day has been the subject of a number of major American blockbusters, from 'The Longest Day' to 'Saving Private Ryan,' even if they might have sometimes compromised on historical accuracy. French directors take a more modest approach to the period.

Published on June 4, 2024, at 4:00 am (Paris), updated on June 4, 2024, at 9:41 pm Jean-Luc Douin

Investigation

Deborah de Robertis scandal divides art world

The artist has been charged with theft and damage following a performance at the Centre Pompidou-Metz on May 6, and her actions have divided opinion in a sphere yet to have its #MeToo moment.

Published on June 3, 2024, at 9:51 pm (Paris), updated on June 4, 2024, at 10:55 am Roxana Azimi

Selection

Visiting Rouen during the Normandie impressionniste festival

At the Normandy town's Musée des Beaux-Arts, the work of American painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) dialogues with works by the artists he influenced. Festival director Philippe Platel revealed his favorite Rouen venues.

Published on June 3, 2024, at 4:37 am (Paris) Julien Thèves

In Depth

Kafka, the perpetual influencer

As we celebrate the centenary of his death on June 3, 1924, the author of 'The Trial' is still very much alive, both in bookshops and on social media, according to writer Sarah Chiche.

Published on June 3, 2024, at 3:36 am (Paris), updated on June 3, 2024, at 9:31 am Sarah Chiche

Review

Centre Pompidou finally turns its attention to comics

With 'Comics on Every Floor,' five simultaneous exhibitions featuring graphic novels, manga and comics celebrate a long-neglected art form in Paris.

Published on June 1, 2024, at 6:21 pm (Paris) Frédéric Potet

Selection

Paris's 'Nuit Blanche': Ten things to do in and around the city during the night-time arts festival

A favorite of night owls, the cultural event is back for a 23rd edition on Saturday, June 1, with free performances and installations focused this year on French overseas territories.

Published on June 1, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on June 1, 2024, at 9:33 am Emmanuelle Jardonnet Djaïd Yamak

Conversation

Nicky Doll, presenter of France's 'Drag Race': 'When I'm in drag, there's no stopping me'

Ambassador of an art form as glamorous as it is activist, drag queen Nicky Doll, whose real name is Karl Sanchez, is the mistress of ceremonies for 'Drag Race France,' season 3 of which will be broadcast from May 31.

Published on May 31, 2024, at 7:40 pm (Paris) Marie Slavicek

News

French actress Isild Le Besco sues director Benoît Jacquot, accusing him of rape

Le Besco filed a legal complaint accusing Jacquot of rapes between 1998 and 2007, joining fellow actor Judith Godrèche, who has also accused him of raping her when she was a teenager.

Published on May 30, 2024, at 2:57 pm (Paris), updated on May 30, 2024, at 3:00 pm Le Monde

Investigation

Sale of part of Renault's art collection at Christie's ignites controversy

Scheduled for June 6, the auction of 33 works belonging to the carmaker has drawn the ire of several artists' estates.

Published on May 30, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris) Roxana Azimi

Review

'The Belle from Gaza': The search for a Palestinian trans woman in the Tel Aviv night

Burning with light, Yolande Zauberman's documentary delivers dazzling thoughts at the intersection of body and political conflict.

Published on May 29, 2024, at 8:45 pm (Paris) Clarisse Fabre

Interview

Centre Pompidou will start purchasing original comic artworks, says president

In an interview with Le Monde, Laurent Le Bon, the president of the arts center in Paris, states that he would like to have the museum purchase original comics.

Published on May 29, 2024, at 4:05 pm (Paris), updated on May 29, 2024, at 4:12 pm Cédric Pietralunga Frédéric Potet

News

Cannes trans actress files complaint over French far-right politician's 'sexist insult'

Marion Maréchal, a French far-right candidate in the upcoming European elections for Eric Zemmour's party, posted on X after the prize was announced: 'So a man has won Best Actress.'

Published on May 29, 2024, at 12:38 pm (Paris), updated on May 29, 2024, at 12:49 pm Le Monde with AFP

News

'Saving Private Ryan' returns to French cinemas for D-Day anniversary

Steven Spielberg's epic will be shown in around 300 French cinemas on June 6, the massive World War II operation's 80th anniversary.

Published on May 28, 2024, at 3:57 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

Op-Ed

New Caledonia: 'No colonial society can last forever'

Writer Eric Vuillard expresses his alarm at the French authorities' reaction to what is happening in the archipelago and deplores the French president's blindness to the Kanak.

Published on May 28, 2024, at 4:17 am (Paris), updated on May 28, 2024, at 7:42 am Eric Vuillard

Column

'Giorgia Meloni and her entourage have no agenda nor vision for culture'

Pitting the populace against the elite is not enough for Meloni's post-fascist Italy, which is using culture as a punching bag. 18 months of the Prime Minister's government has changed values, identity, and culture, writes Le Monde editor-in-chief Michel Guerrin.

Published on May 27, 2024, at 5:03 pm (Paris) Michel Guerrin

Feature

In Kharkiv, an arts center provides unexpected respite from Russian attacks

In the eastern Ukrainian city subjected to daily attacks by the Russian army, the Yermilov Art Center hopes to continue to welcome residents to view its exhibitions as a brief respite from the war.

Published on May 27, 2024, at 4:41 pm (Paris) Thomas d’Istria

Selection

Paris by bike: 10 green islands from Porte de Versailles to the Jardins de Luxembourg

Rue de Vaugirard, the longest street in Paris, offers a safe 4-kilometer cycle ride from the 15th to the 6th arrondissement. The route can be enhanced by refreshing breaks in squares with lush vegetation or secluded micro-gardens.

Published on May 27, 2024, at 8:57 am (Paris), updated on May 27, 2024, at 8:57 am Cécile Cazenave

Round-up

Cannes 2024: From New York to Tehran, winners worthy of a lush festival

Greta Gerwig's jury gave the Palme d'Or to Sean Baker's 'Anora' and awarded the Best Actress Prize to the female cast of Jacques Audiard's 'Emilia Perez.' Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, who fled Iran, received the Special Jury Prize.

Published on May 26, 2024, at 11:23 am (Paris) Véronique Cauhapé Mathieu Macheret

Review

'Let It Be': Peter Jackson and Disney bring Beatles documentary back from oblivion

Released in 1970, Michael Lindsay-Hogg's documentary on The Beatles, which had not been seen for over half a century, was restored by Peter Jackson’s production company.

Published on May 26, 2024, at 9:07 am (Paris) Thomas Sotinel

News

'Mary Poppins' and 'It's a Small World' composer Richard Sherman dies at 95

Sherman, together with his late brother Robert, won two Academy Awards for Walt Disney's 1964 smash 'Mary Poppins.'

Published on May 26, 2024, at 12:53 am (Paris) Le Monde with AP

News

Cannes 2024: 'Anora' by American Sean Baker wins Palme d'Or

It's the fifth straight Palme d'Or won by specialty distributor Neon, following 'Parasite,' 'Titane,' 'Triangle of Sadness' and 'Anatomy of a Fall.' The jury awarded a special prize to Mohammad Rasoulof's 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig,' a drama made secretly in Iran.

Published on May 25, 2024, at 10:17 pm (Paris), updated on May 25, 2024, at 10:44 pm Le Monde with AP

News

Caleb Carr, military historian and author of bestselling novel 'The Alienist,' dies at 68

The son of poet Lucien Carr and author of the bestselling 1994 crime novel died of cancer on Thursday.

Published on May 25, 2024, at 5:41 am (Paris) Le Monde with AP

Long Read

Saint-Denis, cradle of rap and the French hip-hop movement

In the early 1990s, Saint-Denis was a gloomy suburb, stricken by deindustrialization, unemployment and drug abuse. It was on this fertile ground that the hip-hop movement emerged in France. The epicenter of this counter-culture blending graffiti, dance and music, the city shines thanks to its most famous ambassadors: the group NTM.

Published on May 25, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris) Raphaël Malkin

News

France's Mobilier National rolls out Notre-Dame choir carpet

Part of this 200-square-meter velvet masterpiece can be seen in the exhibition 'Great Restored Decors of Notre-Dame,' until July 21, in Paris.

Published on May 25, 2024, at 2:59 am (Paris), updated on May 25, 2024, at 10:13 am Véronique Lorelle

Conversation

Cannes 2024: Mohammad Rasoulof, the Iranian filmmaker on the run

The multi-award-winning Iranian director, who fled Iran clandestinely to escape a lengthy prison sentence, is presenting his latest film, 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig,' in competition on Friday.

Published on May 24, 2024, at 12:45 pm (Paris) Laurent Carpentier

News

Cannes 2024: Reflecting on the Directors' Fortnight, balancing charm and vanity

In his second year heading this section of the Cannes Festival, Julien Rejl embraced eclecticism to showcase a broad spectrum of global independent films.

Published on May 24, 2024, at 1:49 am (Paris), updated on May 24, 2024, at 7:47 am Jacques Mandelbaum

News

Young people still go to the movies and have high expectations of theaters

Two studies recently analyzed 16 to 30-year-olds' and 15 to 24-year-olds' relationship to movie theaters. They especially appreciate 'the big screen' and 'socializing with friends.'

Published on May 24, 2024, at 12:15 am (Paris), updated on May 24, 2024, at 7:27 am Nicole Vulser

In Depth

Cannes 2024: 'The Seed of the Sacred Fig' is at the cutting edge of underground Iranian cinema

As Mohammad Rasoulof takes part in the official competition from exile in Europe, a new generation of Iranian filmmakers is trying to break free from censorship.

Published on May 23, 2024, at 8:40 pm (Paris), updated on May 26, 2024, at 11:13 am Ghazal Golshiri

News

US Justice Department sues Ticketmaster and Live Nation, saying illegal monopoly raises prices

The anti-trust lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan against Ticketmaster and its parent company accuses them of practices that allow it to maintain a stronghold over the live music scene.

Published on May 23, 2024, at 5:02 pm (Paris), updated on May 23, 2024, at 5:35 pm Le Monde with AP

Review

'The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin': The resurrection of a Van Eyck painting at the Louvre

The 15th-century painting, whose restoration has revealed little-known details, is presented in a small but very rich exhibition.

Published on May 23, 2024, at 12:45 pm (Paris) Harry Bellet

Review

Kirill Serebrennikov delivers incomplete portrayal of Eduard Limonov at Cannes Film Festival

Adapted from Emmanuel Carrère's book, 'Limonov: The Ballad' struggles to capture the complex personality of the Russian writer and dissident, whose most embarrassing positions are ignored by the filmmaker.

Published on May 22, 2024, at 8:35 pm (Paris) Véronique Cauhapé

News

Pixar lays off 14% of its staff to 'focus on feature films'

The Disney-owned studio is reportedly retreating from making content for streaming following the catastrophic releases of 'Lightyear' and 'Elemental.'

Published on May 22, 2024, at 2:30 am (Paris) Le Monde with AFP

News

Gérard Depardieu reportedly involved in physical altercation with photographer

According to Italian media, well-known Italian paparazzi photographer Rino Barillari accused the French film star of punching him three times in the face when he tried to photograph him.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 11:50 pm (Paris), updated on May 22, 2024, at 8:02 am Le Monde with AFP

Review

Cannes 2024: David Cronenberg's 'The Shrouds' explores life and death

At 81, the Canadian director created a film of ethereal beauty, where the protagonist (Vincent Cassel) follows the day-by-day decomposition of his wife's body.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 11:05 pm (Paris), updated on May 22, 2024, at 7:53 am Mathieu Macheret

Long Read

French cinematic history through the lens of Le Monde's critics

From post-war films to the streaming revolution and #MeToo, Le Monde critics have always examined the evolution of French cinema and its production conditions.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 8:45 pm (Paris), updated on May 22, 2024, at 10:16 am Thomas Sotinel

Review

Cannes 2024: 'The Apprentice,' the rise of Donald Trump from the deriding gaze of Ali Abbasi

The Danish filmmaker returns to the beginnings of the former US president's career, drawing a portrait of a tycoon in the making, caught up in the world of reality TV.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 4:38 pm (Paris) Véronique Cauhapé

Feature

Welcome to the Australian outback, the land of Mad Max

For 'Furiosa,' the fifth installment screened out of competition at Cannes, George Miller returned to Silverton, a former mining town turned pilgrimage site for fans after it was the location for the second film in the Mad Max franchise.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 3:34 pm (Paris), updated on May 21, 2024, at 3:34 pm Isabelle Dellerba

News

Is that 'Her'? OpenAI pauses ChatGPT project after Scarlett Johansson issues statement over similarity to her voice

Johansson said she was 'shocked, angered and in disbelief' at how similar ChatGPT's 'Sky' voice sounded to her own.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 4:04 am (Paris), updated on May 21, 2024, at 7:08 am Le Monde with AP

News

Cannes 2024: Luxury houses are on the rise in film financing

This year, three films in the official competition, including Jacques Audiard's new feature, are co-produced by Saint Laurent Productions.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 3:36 am (Paris), updated on May 21, 2024, at 7:54 am Marjorie Cessac

Review

At the Opéra Bastille, the madness of a dreamy 'Don Quixote' in love

Absent from France's premier stage since 2002, Jules Massenet's opera is reborn, served by an accomplished vocal cast and Damiano Michieletto's poetic staging.

Published on May 20, 2024, at 3:22 am (Paris) Marie-Aude Roux

Review

Paris's Musée de l'Armée traces the history of the duel

An exhibition on show until August documents the codified combat between two individuals, from Antiquity to the present day, in a form of ritualized violence.

Published on May 19, 2024, at 4:17 pm (Paris) Djaïd Yamak

Review

'Bodkin' on Netflix: Exquisite corpses litter the Irish coast

Macabre, but not overly so, Jez Scharf's series unleashes three podcasters into a small Irish village whose appearance is as picturesque as its secrets are dark.

Published on May 19, 2024, at 11:10 am (Paris) Thomas Sotinel

News

Talleen Abu Hanna represents hope for transgender women in Israel

The 29-year-old is one of the protagonists in Yolande Zauberman's documentary 'La Belle de Gaza.' Presented in a special screening at Cannes before its theatrical release on May 29, the film examines the often tragic destinies of transgender women in Israel.

Published on May 19, 2024, at 6:30 am (Paris) Lucas Minisini

Profile

The Quentin Dupieux method: Anything but absurd

In almost 20 years and with 13 feature-length films, Quentin Dupieux has become a heavyweight in French cinema, thanks to an effective formula: short, inexpensive films shot at breakneck speed with a dream cast. His latest, 'Le Deuxième Acte' ('The Second Act'), which stars Léa Seydoux, Louis Garrel, Raphaël Quenard and Vincent Lindon, opened the Cannes Film Festival on May 14.

Published on May 18, 2024, at 10:00 pm (Paris) Jean-Vic Chapus

Selection

Eight ideas for European Night of Museums

More than 3,000 museums will open their doors to the public free of charge on May 18. Here are our picks for how to make the most of the night in Paris and the surrounding region.

Published on May 18, 2024, at 5:30 am (Paris) Roxana Azimi, Claire Guillot, Emmanuelle Jardonnet, Sylvie Kerviel and Djaïd Yamak

Column

'Cannes has always been composed of two sides – one aesthetic and the other political'

Faced with the #MeToo movement and accusations against French film industry figures, the Festival is seeking to both champion the voices of women and continue to presume accused men are innocent, writes Le Monde culture columnist Michel Guerrin.

Published on May 18, 2024, at 2:00 am (Paris) Michel Guerrin

News

France's La Poste celebrates baguette with bakery-scented stamp

The French post office unveiled on Thursday, the day of the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs, a scratch-and-sniff post stamp, which costs €1.96.

Published on May 17, 2024, at 8:32 pm (Paris), updated on May 17, 2024, at 8:33 pm Le Monde

Review

Cannes 2024: Judith Godrèche's 'Moi Aussi' gives voice to sexual assault victims

The actress's short film was screened on Wednesday, May 15, opening the Un Certain Regard section.

Published on May 17, 2024, at 2:48 am (Paris), updated on May 17, 2024, at 7:33 am Clarisse Fabre

Conversation

Cannes 2024: Life imitates art for the star of L'Histoire de Souleymane

In France for six years, the 23-year-old Guinean Abou Sangare, who gives a dazzling performance in Boris Lojkine's film, has just had his application for legal residency rejected.

Published on May 16, 2024, at 8:30 pm (Paris), updated on May 17, 2024, at 1:44 pm Laurent Carpentier

News

Monet painting fetches $35 million at New York auction

Claude Monet's 'Meules à Giverny' went for close to $35 million after a bidding war on Wednesday.

Published on May 16, 2024, at 11:26 am (Paris), updated on May 16, 2024, at 11:28 am Le Monde with AFP

Selection

Ten French exhibitions to celebrate 150 years of Impressionism

Seascapes and children's faces, neon lights and airship flights above abstraction: Le Monde's critics have selected 10 must-see places to immerse yourself in the color and light of Impressionism.

Published on May 16, 2024, at 4:00 am (Paris) Harry Bellet, Emmanuelle Jardonnet, Philippe Dagen and Emmanuelle Lequeux

Review

Cannes 2024: 'Furiosa: A Mad Max saga,' or the depletion of a saga's resources

The latest installment in George Miller's post-apocalyptic blockbuster series, which premiered at Cannes, lacks the excitement of its predecessor 'Mad Max: Fury Road' despite a flurry of action.

Published on May 15, 2024, at 11:43 pm (Paris), updated on May 16, 2024, at 9:14 am Jacques Mandelbaum

Review

Roman Polanski's 'The Palace,' a disappointing high-society satire

The director's latest film, co-written with his friend, filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski, brings together a few billionaires and degenerate eccentrics in a Gstaad hotel.

Published on May 15, 2024, at 3:23 pm (Paris) Jacques Mandelbaum