New questions from the Middle East: who’s involved, what’s at stake

Lecture by Christian Chesnot

A journalist at Radio France, Christian Chesnot graduated from the Centre de formation des journalistes. While in Iraq, he was kidnapped by the Islamist Army on August 20, 2004, along with a colleague and their Syrian driver. Detained for 124 days, Chesnot was finally released on December 21, 2004. In exchange for a promise of release, his abductors present an ultimatum to the French government: to repeal its law on secularity within 48 hours.

Christian Chesnot’s many books include La Bataille de l'eau au Proche-Orient (L’Harmattan, 1993); Palestiniens 1948-1998 : Génération fedayin, de la lutte armée à l'autonomie (Autrement, 1998).

How does one make sense of the events unfolding in the Middle East? Until recently, it was a relatively simple process, factoring in the Israel-Arab conflict and the Cold War. This analytical framework is no longer valid, as we witness the emergence of new dynamics: the war on terrorism launched in the aftermath of 9/11 and the “Greater Middle East Project” initiated by George W. Bush, Iran’s new ambitions, the increased tensions between communities (Shiites and Sunnites, notably), and the rise of powerful Islamist movements. These are all potential lines of fracture for an area where conflicts are not only unresolved, but become increasingly serious and interconnected. Chesnot’s lecture will provide the opportunity to touch upon all of these issues through examples, in order to better comprehend the rise of this new Middle East and map out potential scenarios for the coming years.

Click here to listen to an interview of Christian Chesnot on Choq'FM

As a part of the CONTACT photography festival, the AFT presents

Toronto Nights

Anna-Katharina Scheidegger
Photos taken during the artist’s Toronto residence in September 2008.

Born in 1976 in Sumiswald, Switzerland, Anna-Katharina Schneidegger lived in Paris and in Bern. She studied in the ENSAD, then in the Studio national de Fresnoy, from 2003 to 2005.

With the fall of night, the city seems to change in its proportions and forms. Darkness frames the interiors of apartments and highlights the individual element within the urban web. The personal, warm nest of the citizen is like a single pixel in the image of a contemporary society. Scheidegger tries, in silent ways, to surprise. The process she engages in to create her work is to step back, wait, see and finally, to show.

Meet two stars of la bande dessinée,

François Ayroles and Emmanuel Guibert

François Ayroles and Emmanuel Guibert present their recent works at l’Alliance française and will discuss the constantly evolving world of comic strips.

After studying art history for a year in university, François Ayroles joined the bande dessinée workshop at the École des beaux-arts d’Angoulême from 1989 to 1992. He regularly contributes works to the L’Association publishing house (« Lapin » magazine). In addition, he produces works for newspapers and magazines (Libération, Les Inrockuptibles, etc.), youth-oriented publishing houses (Nathan), as well as poster art. In parallel, he gives regular classes and worshops in French schools. In 1994, Ayroles joins the OuBaPo (Ouvroir de Bande dessinée Potentielle), a collective affiliated with l'Association. Based on the model of l'Oulipo (Ouvroir de littérature potentielle, instigated by Raymond Queneau), l’OuBaPo creates works in the bande dessinée medium, following deliberate artistic constraints. His most recent book, Les Amis, (published by L'Association) is part of the official selection at the 2009 Angoulême comic strip festival.

Emmanuel Guibert made his debut in 1992 with Brune, a painted comic story about the rise of fascism in Germany during the 1930s. He then did several strips for Lapin, the magazine of the innovative publishing house l'Association. One of Guibert's most impressive works of this period, La guerre d'Alan, recounted the war experiences of Guibert's friend Alan Ingram Cope, who served as an American soldier in World War II, and later retreated to France. It was selected in 2008 by publisher's weekly as one of the "best books of the year". In 2000, he joined the Atelier des Vosges in Paris, where he worked alongside Frédéric Boilet, Didier Tronchet, Émile Bravo, Christophe Blain and Joann Sfar. With the latter, he created the critically acclaimed comic La Fille du professeur. He also scripted Sardine de l'Espace for Sfar and Ariol for Marc Boutavant, published respectively in Maximum and J'aime rire by Bayard Presse. With David B. as his scriptwriter, Guibert created the Le Capitaine Écarlate. He teamed up with Joann Sfar again in 2001 to create Les Olives noires, a series about a Jewish child in Judea.

As part of the monthly lectures of the Société d’Histoire de Toronto,

“Follow the guide!”

Lecture by Nathalie Prézeau

In time for the 10th Doors Open Toronto starting May 23rd, Nathalie Prézeau offers the perfect tool to play the tourist in your own town.

Want to pose as a savvy guide to your visitors this summer? The author of Toronto Fun Places (a 480-page guide on family outings in and around the GTA) can point you to the best circuits to explore the special features unique to Toronto. Take a walk off the beaten track and discover with the hidden treasures within the biggest city in Canada, thanks to a dynamic presentation complete with Nathalie’s best photos.

For information, please call 416-922-2014, ext. 35, or email info@sht.ca

As part of the Jeudis littéraires:

Scènes ouvertes à tous les vents

Round table with Guy Mignault, John Van Burek, and Guillaume Bernardi
Moderator: Julien Valmary

Guy Mignault is an actor, stage director and playwright who has appeared in over 40 theatrical productions, such as L’expulsion de Lily Barton, Drôle de couple, and Au secours. Artistic Director of Le Théâtre français de Toronto since 1997, Mignault received a Dora award in that year for C’était un p’tit bonheur.

John Van Burek spent 20 years at the helm of Le Théâtre du P’tit Bonheur (which became le Théâtre français de Toronto), before founding Toronto’s Pleiades Theatre, where he has been artistic director for 11 years. In all, he has directed over 100 plays and operas. In addition, he has translated numerous plays from French to English.

Guillaume Bernardi regularly works as a stage director in Toronto, where he blends novel approaches to movement and text, as demonstrated by his production of Andorra, by Max Frisch, and The Return of the Moon, based on the works of South African poet Stephen Watson.

Julien Valmary is Director of development and communications at Le Théâtre français de Toronto.

Chamber music recital

Adam Sherkin, piano

with Ivan Ivanovich, violin

Mr. Sherkin will provide a commenteray on the works performed in this recital, highlighting the origins of each work and the main characteristics of its composer.

Composer and pianist Adam Sherkin is a dynamic and multi-talented artist. Notable for his distinct style and the innovative nature of his repertoire, Adam has worked alongside many orchestras and chamber ensembles, both as composer and interpreter. He is the current artistic director of « The Sixth Sphere », a contemporary music series presented at Toronto’s Academy of Spherical Arts.

The Alliance Française of Toronto presents a cabaret-chanson,

« Chansons combat »

With Philippe Flahaut and Stef Paquette

Chansons combat, the sixth and final cabaret-chanson of the season, serves to remind us that beyond their function as entertainment, songs have always aimed to point out what’s wrong with our world - and who’s responsible for it. Even though their profile has waxed and waned aver the years, « protest » songs will always remain relevant, since we can safely assume that there will never be a shortage of social and political inequities to address and hopefully redress.

For this, their first on-stage collaboration, Sudbury-based singer-songwriter Stef Paquette and his TO counterpart Philippe Flahaut will launch a handful of musical molotov cocktails by Georges Brassens, Boris Vian, Renaud, Richard Desjardins or Félix Leclerc.

-Dominique Denis, Artistic Director

Five copies of the concert poster, created by local graphic artist Antoine Procuta, will be offered to audience members through a draw.

Click here to view a newspaper article from L'Express dedicated to this event.

Click here to view some pictures from this evening.

« Pilules… » (Pills)

A documentary by Lara Fitzgerald

« Pilules » is a series of 13 half-hour shows on the most frequently prescribed pills in Canada.

Pills… for anxiety Approximately 6% of Canada’s population suffers from anxiety. However, do we really know the side effects of tranquilizers, especially when it comes to tolerance and physical dependance?

Pills… for depression About 15% of adults are likely to suffer from depression at some point in their lives. It is estimated that this is the highest percentage of all diagnoses in Canada. Which medication must one choose? Is there a difference between a healthy form of sadness and depression? Which alternate forms of treatment and lifestyle may help Canadians overcome this affliction?

Dr Catherine Benes, psychiatrist at the Humber River Regional Hospital, will be in attendance to answer questions from the audience.

For information : danielecaloz@mediatique.ca Tel: (416) 939-5744

As part of Universciné,

Les mauvais joueurs

Frédéric Belekdjian (2005 – 80 min.)
Starring : Pascal Elbé, Simon Abkarian, Isaac Sharry, Linh Dan Phan and Teng Fei Xiang

Sentier, Paris’ garment district. Christmas is coming and Vahé Krikorian’s life is going to pieces. He works with his father in the family store, but it is soon going to shut down. There are too many unpaid debts. Lu Ann has just left him. And he senses that the scams he’s been running with his buddy Sahak and his brother Toros aren’t leading anywhere good.
Life tries to take its usual course. But something has snapped in Vahé. Something he can no longer control and that will lead him to go too far…

As part of Universciné,

An evening of « Cinépizza »

for film buffs of all ages

An evening for movie lovers of all ages! Pizza will be served and nine educational shorts will be screened (80 minutes total), including Les crayons, Le manie-tout, Poteline...

Les crayons
« A lovely little girl writes to the boy she loves, using coloured pencils. Can objects feel emotions? It would appears so...»

Le manie-tout
« Martin is 10 years old. To get to school, he must take an unfamiliar alleyway. Behind a dusty window, he spots the mysterious Manie-tout, who is able to bring the boy’s school bag to life. What if his old hands could do the same for all objects? »

The Théâtre français de Toronto presents,

Le dîner de cons [The Dinner Game]
by Francis Veber

Directed by Guy Mignault
With Stéphanie Broschart, Paul Essiembre, Marianne Lambert, Jean-Michel Le Gal, René Lemieux and Pierre Simpson

This piece, a cult hit onstage and in film, has become synonymous with scathing comedy that denounces the excesses of today’s society. Its premise begins with some characters tracking down a complete idiot and inviting him to dinner with the intention of mocking him the entire evening without his ever realizing it. But what happens when the game does not unfold as planned, when nothing seems to stop the invited idiot from making things worse?

Please visit the TfT’s official site for ticket prices and other information http://www.theatrefrancais.com/right_billets.php

Jacques ou la soumission

by Eugène Ionesco
presented by La Machine à Dire


Staged by Christophe Bauzet,
professor of mathematics et the Lycée français de Toronto

$12 in advance, $17 at the door
Booking at 416 924 1749 ext. 233

The National Film Board presents:

Dieu a-t-il quitté l’Afrique ?
(Had God Left Africa?)

A film by Musa Kieng Dala (2008, 52 min)

August 1999, Brussels. Two Guinean teenagers are found dead in the undercarriage of a plane coming from Conakry. Like them, thousand of young Africans risk their lives every year to escape a continent that is hard hit by conflicts and endemic poverty. To address this ever-growing phenomenon, Senegalese-born filmmaker Musa Dieng Kala returns to the Dakar neighborhood where he grew up, to ask a painful question : Has God left Africa? The answer is not easy to take.

The evening will begin with a screening Le saxophoniste, a short film directed by Lydia Fontaine-Ferron, a collaboration between the NFB (Ontario and Western Studio) and Collège Boréal in Sudbury.

For more information: http://www3.onf.ca/splash/splash.php

With the support of the Alliance française, the Bureau de Québec, Cinéfranco, and the Consulat général de France.