The real Nicholas Winton and one of the 669 children he saved.

During the last holidays, I went to the cinema to see the movie "One Life". It tells the story of an Englishman, Nicholas Winton, who saved more than 600 Jewish children during the Second World War. He organised convoys between Prague and England and sheltered the children with volunteer families.

This movies makes you realise the horror of what people did during the War. Some of the scenes touched me deeply, particularly those showing the separation of the children from their parents, knowing that this would surely be the last time they would see them.

Although the story is difficult, I felt a great deal of admiration and gratitude for the hero: Mr Winton. He risked his life to save hundreds of children and yet few people know his story, which is a great shame! Fortunately, this movie pays him tribute and he has at last got the thanks he deserves.

Finally, this story really moved me and left its mark; I'll never forget Mr Winton. That's why I strongly recommend that you take two hours to go and see it; you won't regret it!

Elsa Luans

 

During the holidays, I went to see a movie at the cinema entitled One Life. It’s an historical movie that deals with the story of a man who saved several hundred children during the Second World War.

Even if I don’t like this kind of movie normally, this one really fascinated me. I really recommend it, it was astonishing. It’s so interesting to learn about the past in this way. Moreover, the scenario is really well directed and we feel the emotions of the actors so strongly.

Do go and watch the movie if you can!

Noémie Peynet

Having watched the documentary Amy some time ago, which tells the life of Amy Winehouse in a captivating way, I was eager to watch the biopic “Back to Black” when it was released. However, my enthusiasm quickly turned into disappointment, as I found the film dull and boring for a woman whose life was anything but boring.

A major flaw of the film is its inability to provide a clear timeline. Dates are missing, making it difficult to follow Amy's journey. The depiction of Amy's love life is also disorganized. We see her meeting Blake, their budding romance, a romantic day at the zoo, and then their sudden separation. The film gives the impression that their relationship lasted only a few moments, whereas in reality, they were together for a significant period, with a deeply passionate and tumultuous relationship.

For those who don't know the true story of Amy Winehouse, the film presents, in my opinion, a misleading narrative. It simplifies her struggles, portraying her as a lonely depressive who fell into drugs, without giving the context. This contrasts strongly with reality, where her boyfriend Blake played a big role in introducing her to hard drugs, and the fact that her father failed to protect her from the pressures of fame. The biopic barely touches on the crucial issue of hard drugs, which were at the heart of her tragic downfall.

Although the actors' performances are commendable and some scenes, like her last concert, are well done, the film as a whole fails to capture the essence of Amy Winehouse's life. It glosses over critical aspects and offers an incomplete and sanitized version of her reality. For a figure as complex and vibrant as Amy, this biopic does her a great disservice.

Ines Roquet

Are you a High School or University student? Do you want to join the UN? You don't have to go to New York, the United Nations is coming to Clermont-Ferrand for a week! ClerMUN certainly gives the illusion of this, with its elegant students, its speeches in English, and the presence of renowned speakers, such as representatives of Michelin, Limagrain and UNRIC, as well as the US Ambassador to Lyon, and not forgetting the former UN Deputy Secretary General in charge of peacekeeping operations: Alain Le Roy, who brought a professional and global dimension to the event.

This 4th edition of the international conference on United Nations modelling in Clermont-Ferrand, ClerMUN, brilliantly orchestrated by the Lycée Massillon at the Hôtel de Région in November 2023, has established its place as a key event in the region's educational and diplomatic scene.

The theme of this year's event was prosperity and development, and it brilliantly highlighted the urgency and scale of the challenges facing our world, while underlining the profound inequalities and questions of justice that arise from them.

Over the course of 3 days, more than 60 high school students from Clermont-Ferrand and abroad took part in 6 UN committees, including UNSC, WHO, FAO, UNHCR and ICJ, to debate issues such as sustainable peace in Libya, food exports to conflict-affected countries, global access to healthcare and the establishment of an international social security system.

The Clermont-Ferrand headquarters of the Region provided an exceptional platform for high-quality debates, driven by the careful preparation of the delegations and their passion for the issues addressed, as manifested by active and committed participation from the ambassadors.

This 4th edition ended with a gala "mun party" at the Lycée Massillon, concluding this immersion in the inner workings of international diplomacy. ClerMUN offers a unique opportunity for these young people to get to grips with the workings of global governance in a context that is both studious and entertaining.

Among other benefits, it enables them to develop their skills in negotiation, diplomacy, rhetoric and communication. Beyond the knowledge they gain in understanding global issues, ClerMUN also enables them to build long-term links with young people from foreign delegations who share the same aspirations for a better future. In this way, ClerMUN is established as a not-to-be-missed event, making a significant contribution to the training of tomorrow's leaders!

DESCHAUMES Timothée

I recently had the chance to visit the LILOU exhibition and can't recommend it highly enough. As soon as I entered, I was impressed by the quality of the works presented. The exhibition offered an intimate insight into the life of this young autistic man through the eyes of his sister, harmoniously blending technique and feeling.

Lucie Hodiesne Darras is a French photographer and a graduate of the École de l'Image, Les Gobelins. A committed artist, she uses images and intimate writing to shed light on the stories of people who are often invisible in our society. Dedicated to her autistic brother, her LILOU series has won numerous awards and been featured in many exhibitions. The photographs are analogue because this was a requirement for her finals at the Gobelins. The series is also the subject of an eponymous book published by Éditions Fisheye in March 2023.

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviour, and communication. Individuals with autism may also have unique strengths and differences in sensory processing. It is a spectrum disorder, meaning that symptoms and characteristics can vary greatly from one person to another. Autism is not a disease and cannot be "cured", but with appropriate support and interventions, individuals with autism can lead fulfilling lives.

Lucie Hodiesne Darras writes: “Lilou is my older brother’s nickname. Antoine is 35 and autistic (...) Like Luc Besson's heroine in The Fifth Element movie, he's an exceptional person, living in a different universe from ours.”

For the last seven years, the young artist-photographer has been collaborating with her elder brother on this project, which sheds light on the fact that people with ASD are still stigmatized.

Lucie Hodiesne Darras adds: “It’s with a very positive and humanistic approach that I would like to offer a new perspective on autism, full of hope and optimism, for greater inclusion in our society.”

Lilou himself doesn't speak, write or draw. Through his sister's photos, he reveals himself with staggering honesty. Always attentive to her brother's well-being, Lucie constructs a poetic monochromatic tale based on his rituals (these are necessary for him in both time and space).

The photos on display were not only aesthetically impressive, but also carried profound and powerful messages. Each photo told a piece of his story, arousing in me a sincere emotion.

What's more, the organization of the exhibition was exemplary. The space was laid out in such a way as to highlight each photo, while offering visitors an immersive, fluid experience. The information provided on the artists and works was clear and interesting, enabling a better understanding of his daily life.

Finally, the exhibition staff was welcoming, attentive and passionate, all of which helped to make my visit even more enjoyable.

In conclusion, the LILOU exhibition is a must-see for all photography enthusiasts, but also for anyone wanting to develop a new perspective on autism. An enriching photographic and human experience that I warmly recommend to all.

If you want to visit this exhibition go to 5 rue de la Treille, Clermont-Ferrand every Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 6.30pm from 12/04 to 18/05.

Helena Lixi

 

Oppenheimer movie review

Oppenheimer is a biopic which was released on the 19th July 2023. The movie focuses on the famous scientist who initiated the Manhattan project.

Oppenheimer’s personal story is well presented in this movie. Between 1926 and 1929, Oppenheimer wrote his doctoral thesis in Europe (unfortunately, the important people that had a huge influence on him, such as Paul Dirac or Max Born, are not mentioned). During the scenes about him coming to America, we are introduced to the theories of quantum mechanics, which he pioneered. Christopher Nolan, the movie director, highlights this in his movie. The film shows quite a bit of the historical context, helping us understand the need for the creation of the atomic bomb. We learn for example that McCarthyism is ubiquitous in North America during this period.

The movie is well directed, the special effects are impressive, and the music composed by Ludwig Göransson is very coherent with the movie. The absence of action might make the movie seem overlong, but the people who want to learn more about Oppenheimer will love it. Moreover, it is pretty interesting to see the political aspect of his live, his dealings with the American Government. His ideas on what he wanted to do after the creation of the atomic bomb are mentioned. He says the famous line: “Now I become death, the destroyer of the world” (https://youtu.be/lb13ynu3Iac). The cast is star-studded: Cillian Murphy is Oppenheimer (he won the Oscar for his portrayal), Robert Downey Jr is Lewis Strauss, the President of the Atomic Energy Commission, Matt Damon is Leslie Groves, the Army general.

Oppenheimer is one of the best movies of 2023, it tells the story of a famous scientist who changed the world, and who deserved to be better known. The movie can at times be rather complex, but it is still accessible. Christopher Nolan has done a fine job.

Hinek Sauvant

The question is: to see or not to see Shakespeare's famous masterpiece Hamlet played by the Company Les Dramaticules? The answer is: yes, absolutely!

The C° kept most of the original text and modified other parts to make it accessible to a wider public.

A lot of work has been done on the sets which are quite “busy” and very immersive. The scenery is a beautiful mess of macabre festivities.

Despite the fact that Hamlet is a tragedy, the company manages to make the public laugh from time to time.

What is really innovative is the use of a camera that allows us to have a new point of view of the play depending on what is being recorded. The video is projected on screen at the back of the stage. For example, Hamlet can talk directly to the camera to confess his feelings or it can be used like a hidden camera to show scenes as if the spectator wasn’t supposed to see them. This practice offers (for me) a completely new experience of the theatre.

Jeremie Le Louët, who plays the title role, was wonderful, feigning madness perfectly.

One thing that strikes me is the timelessness of the play. Even though it was written in 1603, Hamlet is still played and still understood. During this particular theatrical performance, you are sure not to get bored (there are plenty of surprise moments!). The modernisation of the play will make you like it.

A word of advice: (re)read the play beforehand, that way you can spot some of the differences from the original and enjoy the adaptation.

Alix LUPO