Laure Calamy

Born in Orléans in 1975, Laure Calamy is one of France’s best-loved *comédiennes, best known for her breakout role as the lovelorn and libidinous assistant Noémie in the hit Netflix series, Call My Agent!

Equally adept at dramatic and comedic roles, Calamy trained at Paris’s prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique and began her career in theatre before branching out into TV and film.

Her first big screen nod came in 2021, when she won the César Award for Best Actress for her screwball role in AFFFF favourite Antoinette dans le Cévennes (My Donkey, My Lover & I).

After last year’s moving festival outing in My Everything, playing a single mother of a 30-year-old son with cerebral palsy, Calamy is taking a lighter turn in the comedy *Classe Moyenne (The Party’s Over ).

* actresses | *Middle Class

See It: L'Étranger

For lovers of French literature, one of the most anticipated films of the upcoming Alliance Française French Film Festival is undoubtedly L’Etranger (The Stranger) – François Ozon’s take on one of the most-read French novels around the globe.

Ranked number one on Le Monde’s 100 Books of the Century list, The Stranger is Albert Camus’ first foray into absurdism, telling the tale of a mysterious expat, Mersault, who is unwittingly drawn into a murder on an Algerian beach.

Set in 1930s French Algeria and sumptuously shot in black and white, the auteur’s faithful adaptation of the 1942 classic has received numerous accolades, including the awards for best film, best actor (Benjamin Voisin) and best cinematographer at The Lumiere Awards – France’s answer to the Golden Globes.

View session times here.

King & Conqueror

Our chouchous are always full of viewing recs, and here’s another one history buffs (who don’t mind a bit of artistic license) or fans of James Norton might enjoy. King & Conqueror is an epic 8-part series based on the struggle for the English throne that culminated in the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Alongside Norton as Harold II, it stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (of Game of Thrones fame) as the conquering William of Normandy, with Emily Beecham and Clémence Poésy as the women in their lives.

Not sure you’re up to the French? *Pas de souci, this one is in English. Reviews are mixed, but you can read all about it here and decide if it’s for you.

Watch it now on SBS on Demand.

*No problem

Worth a Watch: From Rock Star to Killer

Love True Crime? The three-part documentary ‘From Rock Star to Killer’ is the perfect weekend binge watch. Now on Netflix, the series revisits a scandal from the early oughts that’s back in the news – the death of beloved actress Marie Trintignant at the hands of her musician lover, Bernard Cantat, in 2003.

The documentary shines an unflattering light on the victim-blaming nature of the media and public perception at the time – drawing attention to her ‘excesses’ and insinuating her personal choices led to the ‘crime of passion’ – and has prompted the recent reopening of the investigation into the 2010 death by suicide of his ex‑wife, Kristina Rády.

Watch De rockstar à tueur: le cas Cantat on Netflix now.

Échappées belles

Need some inspiration for your next holiday? We recommend you tune in to the fabulous Échappées belles (Great Escapes). Airing weekly on France 5 since 2006, the popular travel and discovery show is akin to a Gallic Getaway – but much more in-depth.

Each 90-minute episode does a deep dive into *une seule destination. Enjoy them at your leisure, with most episodes available to watch free on the official Échappées belles YouTube channel.

Here’s a little taste.

*a single destination

Charles Aznavour’s ‘She’

Penned by beloved French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer in 1974, ‘She’ is an iconic love song with two lives. Originally recorded in English (and later also in French, German, Spanish and Italian), it was the theme tune for a British TV series and reached number one success in the UK and Ireland.

However, the moving ballad didn’t reach nearly the same heights in Aznavour’s homeland, and it wasn’t until Elvis Costello’s cover appeared in Notting Hill that *le monde entier est tombé amoureux.

Learn the ‘She’ story in this instalment of ‘Once Upon a Song.’

And don’t miss the man himself singing the original version below.

*the whole world fell in love

Series: D’argent et de sang

After a French series to keep you glued to *la télé this winter? With 12 gripping episodes, D’argent et de sang (Of Money and Blood) is a stylish crime thriller following “one of the biggest financial swindles of all time”.

Inspired by a book of the same name by investigative journalist Fabrice Arfi, the series is based on true events surrounding a multi-billion-dollar French carbon tax fraud in 2008-9. The story centres on customs inspector and magistrate Simon Weynachter’s obsessive pursuit of those involved in what French media dubbed the scam of the century – a pair of Tunisian criminals from Belleville and a wealthy, charismatic trader.

Watch the trailer below and stream it now on SBS on Demand.

*the TV

Quel est ton roman français préféré?

With the cooler weather (and relentless rain!), now’s the perfect time to settle in with a good book. We know we have plenty of *rats de bibliothèque among our chouchous, so we thought we’d give you some recommendations from *l’équipe. *En français, bien sûr!

(Not up for the challenge? You can also snap up English versions for most of our picks online.)

*Library rats – the French expression for bookworm! | *the team | *In French, of course!

Quel est ton jeu de société préféré?

Did you know that the French are avid board game enthusiasts, with 91% of the population regularly indulging in a *jeu de société, or *deux? *Alors, now you do.

*En fait, 2023 saw nearly 90,000 boxes of board games sold each day in France, making it one of the most game-obsessed markets in Europe. Which begs the question, *Quels sont les jeux de société préféré de nos professeurs?

You’re probably familiar with most of these, other than le Jeu des petits chevaux. This traditional French children’s board game, similar to Ludo, consists of moving several pawns (horses) to the home reserved for their colour. Each player will receive between one and three horses, with the first player to reach the last square (numbered 6) winning the game.

*Well | *board game | *two | *Which are our teachers favourite board games?

French Comedy à Brisbane?

Feeling *courageux about testing your French listening skills? Then add this social outing to your calendar for *un vrai défi. Later this month, French comedienne Tania Dutel will be performing at the Brisbane Comedy Festival with a show that tackles deceit and hypocrisy—entirely in French.

You can sample Tania’s style by watching her in action in Montreal.

Visit the website for more information or to secure your tickets. *Bon courage! 

Tania Dutel at Brisbane Comedy Festival
Sunday 18 May | 5pm
Tickets: From $50
Powerhouse Theatre, New Farm

BOOK NOW

Du Foie Gras sous le Sapin

If you’re looking for something fun to do now the Alliance Française French Festival is over, we have just the thing. Running from 19-21 June, *Du foie gras sous le sapin is the latest offering from Brisbane French Theatre—after a break of nearly three years.  

Performed entirely in French, with English subtitles projected above the stage, the dark comedy, translated as ‘Eat your heart out’, tells the tale of three broke *colocataires faced with a tricky festive dilemma.

December 2025. As France battles an unprecedented winter heatwave, the trio receive bad news: their rent is about to skyrocket. In the midst of a brutal cost-of-living crisis, this blow threatens not only their already fragile budget but, even worse, their beloved Christmas tradition: the annual foie gras marathon!

Faced with their increasingly precarious situation, the trio of misfits find themselves divided over one existential question: how do you respond to a world that’s becoming more dehumanised every day, other than by becoming just like it?

Tickets are on sale now. For further information or to book, visit the website.

DU FOIE GRAS SOUS LE SAPIN
Thursday 19 June - Saturday 21 June 2025
Adult $26 | Concession $21 | Group $21
Ron Hurley Theatre, Seven Hills
BOOK NOW

*Foie gras under the tree | *housemates

Sneak Peek into Le Nid: Quel est ton acteur français préféré?

With the Alliance Française French Film Festival fast approaching, we thought it was the perfect time to reveal our favourite French actors (male and female). From icons to up-and-comers, here are the stars our team adores.

Quel(le) est ton acteur ou actrice préféré(e)?

KATRINA
Sandrine Kiberlain
Film célèbre* : Les patriotes (The Patriots)

Source : Mireille Ampilhac via Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0

JUSTINE
Adèle Exarchopoulos
Film célèbre: La vie d'Adèle (Blue Is The Warmest Colour)

ALICIA
Agnès Jaoui
Film célèbre: Le goût des autres (The Taste of Others)

Source : Georges Biard via Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

ANGÉLINE
Guillaume Canet
Film célèbre: Les petits mouchoirs (Little White Lies)

Source : Georges Biard via Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

ALEXIA
Jean Dujardin
Film célèbre: The Artist

Source : Georges Biard via Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

MARION
Jean Rochefort
Film célèbre: Le Crabe-tambour (Drummer Crab)

Source : Georges Biard via Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

* Famous film

Paul Taylor: F*** Me I’m French

We’ve written about the Paris-based comic Paul Taylor before. *Et maintenant, you can hear his tales of life as a British expat *en France when he visits Brisbane *en mai.

A master of “le French bashing”, Taylor typically performs his shows using a mix of French and English. But for his Brisbane Comedy Festival outing, F*** Me I’m French, he’s keeping it 100% English. And judging by the title, you can expect a solid smattering of his signature fruity language. Book *vos sièges now!

Paul Taylor, F*** Me I’m French
Thursday 8 May, 8:30pm
Brisbane Powerhouse
Tickets: $59.50
BOOK NOW

**and now | *in May |*in France |*in English |* your seats (tickets)

French Series: Drops of God

Streaming on Apple TV+ alongside another recent discovery, La Maison, Drops of God (Les Gouttes de Dieu) is a thrilling and delectable French series. Or, rather, French-American-Japanese series.

Premiering in 2023 with *une deuxième série confirmed, the Emmy-award-winning show takes you on a journey through beautiful *vignobles in France and Japan, as Camille competes against her deceased father’s protégé, Issei, to inherit her father’s private wine collection. Which happens to be the finest in the world.

Based on a 44-volume manga series of the same name (that doubled wine sales in Japan when first published in 2004), Drops of God is a must for lovers of stylish drama. And the perfect way to swot up on your wine vocab.

Stream it here.

* a second series | *vineyards

Camille Cottin

Born in Boulogne-Billancourt on the outskirts of Paris in 1978, actress and comedian Camille Cottin is one of France’s most popular film, stage and TV stars. And, *bien sûr, a firm favourite of many of our chouchous for her breakout role in the comedy-drama series, Dix Pour Cent (Call My Agent!).

Living in London as a teenager and working as a high school English teacher on her return home, Cottin trained at a drama school in Paris before joining the theatre company Troupe à Palmade in 2009. Her first on-screen role came the same year in the film Nos 18 ans, but her big break was in 2013 with Connasse.

In the hidden-camera sketch show, Cottin played a snobby Parisienne known simply as "La Connasse” (The Bitch). Her character was so popular that it led to the film The Parisian Bitch, Princess of Hearts (2015), which earned her a César Award nomination for Most Promising Actress.  

*Cependant, it was in 2015 that her star hit its ascension with a stellar performance as the impossibly cool talent agent Andréa Martel in the critically acclaimed series Call My Agent! Cottin has since had starring roles in films including Telle mère, telle fille (Baby Bumps, 2017) and Toni, en famille (2023). Her formidable talent has also won her English-language roles in the films Allied, House of Gucci and alongside Matt Damon in 2021’s Stillwater.

This month, you can catch Cottin at the 2025 Alliance Française French Film Festival in Trois amies (Three Friends) and Ni chaînes, ni maîtres (No Chains No Masters)—a rom-com and a historical drama that showcase her comedic and *plus sérieux acting chops.

Trois amies is our selection for this year’s festival, and we’d be delighted if you joined us at Palace Centro (James St) for the 6pm screening on Sunday, 13 March. Grab your tickets here—and feel free to join us for a pre-film ápero at Sixes and Sevens from 4pm!

*of course | *However |*more serious

3 Favourite French Christmas Carols and Songs

If you need a break from Mariah on repeat these next few weeks, here are three classic French chants de Noël* to add to your Spotify playlist. Two carols you’ll definitely be familiar with – but you might find a new festive favourite in the nation’s most beloved Christmas song.

Enjoy! 

Vive le vent (Jingle Bells)

While you’ll recognise the tune in an instant, you might notice something awry with the French translation of the classic ‘Jingle Bells’. T'inquiète pas*, it’s no reflection of your comprehension skills! The lyrics to ‘Vive le vent’ (Long live the wind) are completely different – but festive and fun to sing along.

Long live the wind, long live the wind
Long live the winter wind
Which goes whistling, blowing
Through the tall green Christmas trees, oh!

Long live the season, long live the season,
Long live the holiday season
Snowballs and new year’s day
and happy new year Grandma!

Along the long road
All white from the white snow
Walks an old man
With his cane in his hand
And the wind way up there
Which whistles in the branches
Blows the romantic tune on him
That he sang as a young child, oh!

Merry, Merry Christmas
To the thousand candles
Which delight toward heaven
The night’s bells.
Long live the wind, long live the wind
Long live the winter wind
Which brings to old kids
Their memories of yesterday, oh!

And the old man
Goes down toward the village
t’s the time when everyone is good
And the shadow dances near the fire
But in each house
There floats a festive air
Everywhere the table is set
And you hear the same song, oh!

Vive le vent, vive le vent
Vive le vent d’hiver
Qui s’en va sifflant, soufflant
Dans les grands sapins verts, oh!

Vive le temps, vive le temps
Vive le temps d’hiver
Boules de neige et Jour de l’An
Et Bonne Année grand-mère!

Sur le long chemin
Tout blanc de neige blanche
Un vieux monsieur s’avance
Avec sa canne dans la main
Et tout là-haut le vent
Qui siffle dans les branches
Lui souffle la romance
Qu’il chantait petit enfant, oh!

Joyeux, joyeux Noël
Aux mille bougies
Qu’enchantent vers le ciel
Les cloches de la nuit
Vive le vent, vive le vent
Vive le vent d’hiver
Qui rapporte aux vieux enfants
Leurs souvenirs d’hier, oh!

Et le vieux monsieur
Descend vers le village
C’est l’heure où tout est sage
Et l’ombre danse au coin du feu
Mais dans chaque maison
Il flotte un air de fête
Partout la table est prête
Et l’on entend la même chanson, oh!

---

Petit Papa Noël (Little Father Christmas)

Written in 1944 and made famous by iconic French singer and actor Tino Rossi in 1946, 'Petit Papa Noël' (Little Father Christmas) is France’s favourite holiday song. The original version of the non-secular song was rewritten to remove references to the war.

It’s the beautiful Christmas eve
The snow spreads out on a white blanket
And eyes are raised towards the
The little children are on their knees
Before closing their eyelids
Saying a last prayer

Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking
But before you leave
You should cover yourself well
Outside you will be so cold
And it’s kind of my fault

I can’t wait for daybreak
To see if you brought me
All the nice toys I see in my dreams
And that I ordered from you

Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking

It looks like it’s past bedtime
The kids are going to go to sleep
And you’ll be able to start
With your sack on your back
To the sound of church bells
Your delivery of surprises

And when you’re beautiful cloud
Come first to our house
I wasn’t well behaved everyday
But I’m asking you to forgive me

Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking

Little Santa Claus 

C’est la belle nuit de Noël
La neige étend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux levés vers le ciel
À genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupières
Font une dernière prière

Petit Papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier
Mais, avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C’est un peu à cause de moi

Il me tarde tant que le jour se lève
Pour voir si tu m’as apporté
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve
Et que je t’ai commandés

Petit Papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier

Le marchand de sable est passé
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des églises
Ta distribution de surprises

Et quand tu seras sur ton beau nuage
Viens d’abord sur notre maison
Je n’ai pas été tous les jours très sage
Mais j’en demande pardon

Petit Papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier

Petit Papa Noël

---

Douce Nuit (Silent Night)

Penned in the 1800s by an Austrian priest, Silent Night has been translated into over 300 languages – including English and the French version, ‘Douce nuit, sainte nuit’ (Sweet Night, Holy Night). Read more about the history of ‘Stille Nacht’ here.  

Sweet night, holy night
In the heavens, the star shines
The announced mystery is fulfilled
This child sleeping on straw
It’s infinite love
It’s infinite love

Holy child, soft lamb
How big He is, how beautiful He is
Listen to the pipe sounding
Shepherds driving their flocks
Towards his humble cradle
Towards his humble cradle

He comes running towards us
In a gift without return
In this world ignorant of love
Where he’s starting his stay
May he be the King forever
May he be the King forever

What a welcome for a King
The spot of the shelter, the spot of the roof
In his manger he shivers from cold
Oh sinner, without waiting for the cross
Jesus suffers for you
Jesus suffers for you

Peace to all, Glory to heaven
Glory to the maternal heart
Who for us, on this Christmas day,
Gave birth to the eternal Saviour
That Israel was waiting for
That Israel was waiting for

Douce nuit, sainte nuit!
Dans les cieux ! L’astre luit.
Le mystère annoncé s’accomplit
Cet enfant sur la paille endormi,
C’est l’amour infini!
C’est l’amour infini!

Saint enfant, doux agneau!
Qu’il est grand! Qu’il est beau!
Entendez résonner les pipeaux
Des bergers conduisant leurs troupeaux
Vers son humble berceau!
Vers son humble berceau!

C’est vers nous qu’il accourt,
En un don sans retour!
De ce monde ignorant de l’amour,
Où commence aujourd’hui son séjour,
Qu’il soit Roi pour toujours!
Qu’il soit Roi pour toujours!

Quel accueil pour un Roi!
Point d’abri, point de toit!
Dans sa crèche il grelotte de froid
O pécheur, sans attendre la croix,
Jésus souffre pour toi!
Jésus souffre pour toi!

Paix à tous ! Gloire au ciel!
Gloire au sein maternel,
Qui pour nous, en ce jour de Noël,
Enfanta le Sauveur éternel,
Qu’attendait Israël!
Qu’attendait Israël!

*Christmas songs |*Don’t worry

Blanc de Blanc Encore (Plus Exclusive Discount!)

Struggling to find the perfect last-minute gift for the Francophile in your life? We happen to think experiences make the best cadeaux de Noël*, so why not treat them (and yourself) to a riotous, champagne-fuelled night of entertainment?

Playing now until 14th Feb at The West End Electric, Blanc de Blanc Encore is the self-proclaimed “show that pops your cork”. An “intoxicating Gatsby-esque ride (that) astonishes and delights with its unique brand of opulent, cheeky, edge-of-your-seat theatre”, the smash-hit show from Strut & Fret first premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 2019 and is headed for London’s West End on the next leg of its tour.

A fusion of circus, bawdy comedy and cabaret acts, Blanc de Blanc Encore has won a legion of fans among audiences and critics alike.

“This was one of the funniest, most entertaining shows I have been to & I have been to a lot. Total engagement from start to finish. Do yourself a favour & book for a truly amazing show. Love, love, loved it!!!” ★★★★★ Brenda Webber 

“A hilarious, risqué show that runs the risk of upsetting prudish types (and we absolutely loved it).” Sunday Telegraph

Interested? We have some exciting news! The lovely folks at Strut & Fret are offering an exclusive discount for Lingua Franca students. Enter the code MYLINGUAFRIENDS at checkout to unlock 15% off tickets! Or purchase directly through this link, which will apply the code automatically.

For more information, check out this video. Or visit the website to snap up your sièges*. We’ll see you there!

* Christmas gifts | *seats

La Maison (French Series)

Fashion meets high drama in this behind-the-curtain look at an iconic French haute couture house. When the family dynasty behind the house falls into scandal, they must find a way to reinvent themselves – or be destroyed by their rival. – La Maison, Apple TV

Now that term 4 has almost wrapped up, don’t let your French learning slide over les vacances*. We find les chouchous* who progress the fastest are avid consumers of French culture – from TV to movies to podcasts and music.

Touted by The Guardian as “an irresistibly moreish mashup of Emily in Paris and Succession”, une série* many students are devouring is La Maison. One for fans of the glamorous yet cutthroat fashion world, it’s sure to spice up those empty days between Christmas and le jour de l'An*.

Watch the trailer or stream it now on Apple TV.  

*the holidays | *the teacher’s pets | *a series | *New Year’s Day

Best French Films of the 21st Century So Far

Next time you’re drawing a movie night blank, dig into this list of the best French films of the 21st Century (so far) for inspiration. Whether you’re drawn to the drôle*, prefer les films au suspense* or can’t go past une histoire d’amour*, with 24 titles ranked in ascending order, there’s something pour tous les goûts*.

*funny | *thrillers | *a love story | *for every taste

L'Origine du Monde (Dear Mother)

“When Jean-Louis' heart stops beating, he must confront his Oedipal issues — and ask his mother an unthinkable question — or he'll be dead in three days.”

If you’re looking for a light-hearted French comedy, we recently received a recommendation from one of our students. Starring and directed by Laurent Lafitte, Dear Mother or L'Origine du Monde* had our chouchou* “laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe.”

Sound good? You can stream Dear Mother on Netflix or view la bande annonce* here.

Petit avertissement (small disclaimer): for the relatively broad-minded.

*The Origin of the World | *teacher’s pet | *the preview