Manon Kerjean and her partner run Lost in Frenchlation, a series of weekly screenings of current French films with English subtitles
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Paris!
What were the movies you saw as a child that made an impression on you?
As a child, I watched Jacques Demy's movies over and over again - Peau d'Âne, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, the list goes on! Their dreamlike world made a strong impression on me. I was also a big fan of Louis de Funès and used to know some of the films he starred in by heart.
You studied and pursued acting/editing. Please tell us about your acting/editing career.
Both of my parents are actors and introduced me to the cinema at a young age. I used to take on roles as their daughter in some films and advertisements. Then, I studied film to become an editor, and I started doing demo-reels for actors after university. I was an assistant editor on some feature-length French films (two of which were screened at Lost in Frenchlation) and was in the process of applying to the famous and highly-selective French film school, La Femis, when Lost in Frenchlation became my full-time job.
How did you come up with the idea of Lost in Frenchlation?
Matt (Lost in Frenchlation's co-founder) and I came up with the idea three years ago when we were both living in Paris, but Matt didn't speak French. We searched everywhere for a cinema showing French films with English subtitles and couldn't find one, so we decided to do something about it!
How did you approach film companies in getting them to give you their films with the English subtitles?
It was very hard at the beginning. All the doors were closed, and it's a small world where everyone knows each other. If you don't own a cinema, you're not part of the “group,” so it was hard to find people that believed in the project, including distributors and movie theatres. Many said there was no market for Lost in Frenchlation, and distributors were often a bit taken aback by the fact that we would like a copy of a French movie with English subtitles… in Paris! But I think we proved them wrong.
How do you select your films and which have been the most popular?
We choose our films based on the director, the actors, the distributors, and what we would want to watch and what we think everyone else in Paris would like to see. We want the evening and film to be like a sample of the French cinema experience. Two of our most popular films were Mon Roi and Divines. For Mon Roi, the line went all the way down the street, and we had to take chairs from the bar and put them in the room so that everyone could have a seat. For Divines, we’ve screened the film a total of three times, and for the third time, the director himself came to introduce the film to the audience and answer their questions. More recently, we sold out an hour before the film started for Au Revoir Là-haut and a day before for Le Sens de la Fête.
You have studied French cinema extensively. What are a few fun facts that we may not know you can tell us?
The technique of 3D films was invented by the Lumière brothers who are also credited as the creators of cinema. They screened a remake of their famous Arrival of a train at La Ciotat in 3D using yellow & purple glasses.
Georges Melies, who invented special effects, is best known for his Trip to the Moon, and he eventually ended up working in a toy store at Gare Montparnasse when everyone thought he was dead. The film Hugo Cabret pays tribute to him, with the character of the old man working in the toy shop of a train station...
If you were stranded on a desert island, which three French films would you have with you?
The trilogy L’Auberge Espagnole, Les Poupées Russes, & Casse-Tête Chinois by Cédric Klapisch.
What do you prefer about Paris?
It feels like home… and kind of like a movie sometimes.
Here is link to website to find out more about future screenings http://lostinfrenchlation.com
New Years in Paris-My Apartment for Rent December 27 to January 3(dates flexible)-Price Slashed
How would you like to spend a magical Christmas and festive New Years in Paris?
I am renting my apartment out from December 27 to January 3, (dates are flexible) a total of 8 nights for $2000.
Centrally located in the heart of the Marais near the St. Paul metro station, it's a spacious one-bedroom 750 sq. ft. loft style apartment with 12 ft. ceilings, decorated in chic Mid-Century Modern furniture and sleeps one or two people in a Queen size bed. Amenities include A/C, washer/dryer, 16" flat screen TV, dishwasher, internet connection/Wifi and free long distance calls to the U.S. The apartment is located on the second floor with an elevator.
Photos upon request. Please email me at [email protected] if you are interested.
Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.
Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
Comments