April 2025 Updated

LE BULLETIN de l’Alliance Française de New Haven

P.O. Box 207333, New Haven, CT 06520

https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/

A non-profit organization promoting French language and culture 

Our Board of Directors 2023-2025
Elections 2025 Scheduled for June
Anyone wishing to be part of the Board, run for any office, or help with programming, send an email to alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com
Our Board of Directors:

President: Alberta Conte

Vice-President: Clay Howe

Secretary: Shaundolyn Slaughter

Treasurer: Larry Hall

Café Littéraire: Robert Beech

Ciné Club: Clay Howe


Members: Lea Chaudun, Asefeh Heiat, Jake Joseph, Yvonne Kolodny, Robert Singer, Stephen Young


UPCOMING EVENTS

Parlons Français!

Join our Meetup conversation group every other Sunday morning from 10:30 to noon for fun and French discussion. To register for this event, send an email to: alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com. We will meet at Panera Bread, 1060 Chapel St., New Haven. April 6, 20, 2025.

Café Littéraire sur Zoom

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 @ 6:30 PM

Voici un club pour les membres qui voudraient lire et discuter d'un livre en français (reservé aux gens qui ont un niveau avancé). Nous nous rencontrons par Zoom à 18h30 chaque mois. On discute des thèmes et des idées dans les romans avec le groupe. Si vous voulez les liens ou si vous avez des questions, envoyez un email à oin our Meetup conversation group every other Sunday morning from 10:30 to noon for fun and French discussion. To register for this event, send an email to: alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com. Pour mars on lit Le mage du Kremlin par Giuliano da Empoli. The author recounts his imagined meeting, one night in Moscow, with the enigmatic Vadim Baranov, once an artist, producer of reality TV shows.

Ciné Club sur Zoom

Thursday, April 17, 2025 @ 6 PM

Fan of French movies? If so, this club is for you. Join the Alliance Française for a discussion of a French movie on Zoom. If you have a favorite movie or any suggestions for future viewings, send us an email. Clay Howe will lead the conversation. Upcoming films to be announced. We meet on the third Thursday of the month. The film for April is Illusions Perdues, Lost Illusions. Lucien de Rubempré (Benjamin Voisin) is an ambitious and unknown aspiring poet in 19th century France. He leaves his provincial town, arriving in Paris on the arm of his admirer, Louise de Bargeton (Cécile de France). Outmatched in elite circles, Lucien’s naive etiquette prompts Louise to retreat back to her husband, leaving the young poet to forge a new path. It is available on Tubi, Fandango, Plex, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play, and Apple TV. For further information and to receive the Zoom link, send an email to alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com .

Social Hour at Atelier Florian

Thursday, April 24, 2025 @ 4:30 PM

Join the Alliance Française for Happy Hour at Atelier Florian, 1166 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511 on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM. Wine $5, beer $5, and food starting at $4. See their website for the menu http://atelierflorian.net/assets/happy-hour.pdf To reserve your spot, email alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com

Invitation to French Highlights Tour and the Sargent and Paris Exhibition @ the MET.

April 29, 2025


When: April 29, 2025

Where: Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC).

Follow up activity: Early dinner @ La Boîte en Bois Restaurant

Join the AFH and the AFNH for an

enriching day exploring a French

Highlights Tour and an extraordinary

exhibition of Sargent and Paris

at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on April 29, 2025. The museum visit will start at 11:15 AM with the French Highlights tour followed by the Sargent exhibition. After the museum visit, we will proceed to an early dinner at the charming La Boîte en Bois restaurant.

The John Singer Sargent exhibition promises to be a fascinating journey through the painter’s works, showcasing his artistic connection and influence from Paris. The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides an exceptional backdrop for these masterpieces, offering an extraordinary experience for all attendees.

We look forward to sharing this delightful day of art and cuisine with you!

For more information, please visit:

https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/sargent-and-paris

http://www.laboitenyc.com/

Interested? Let Linda know at dirafh@gmail.com

FILM FESTIVALS

Yale French Department Ciné Club

February 21- April 25

The Yale French Department Ciné Club, organized by Apolline Cuchet and Saly Touré, invites you to explore timeless classics and award-winning contemporary films that shape French cinema. From animated films and political dramas to comedies and heartfelt coming-of-age stories, there will be something for everyone! Screenings are open to everyone in the Yale community. Films will be screened in French with English subtitles.

Click HERE for the link.

French Film Series on Southern's Campus

Mal à l’aise/Uncomfortable

March 13, 2025 - April 26, 2025

The French Section at Southern Connecticut State University is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming film series themed Mal à l’aise/Uncomfortable. This carefully curated selection showcases fantastical and sci-fi narratives where characters wrestle with deep-seated discomfort—be it with their circumstances, their promises, or the choices they make.

Films will be shown on Southern’s campus in New Haven in the Adanti Student Center Theater.

Website, which includes films, trailers, dates and times, and parking information:https://sites.google.com/view/southernct-french/2025-film-series

 

Admission: Free and open to the public 

Dates and films:

Thursday April 3, 5:30 p.m.: Le Règne animal

Thursday April 10 5:30 p.m.: Disco Boy

Thursday April 17, 5:30 p.m. : Les cinq diables

Saturday April 26, 12 p.m.: Linda veut du poulet


For more information, please contact French@SouthernCT.edu

April in Paris at

Cinestudio on Campus of Trinity College

April 3 - April 6

From April 3 - April 6, immerse yourself in a rich selection of French-language films that highlight food, culture, and history. This year’s lineup offers a diverse mix of captivating stories.—all best experienced on the big screen!"

https://cinestudio.org/

https://www.facebook.com/cinestudio/posts/-april-in-paris-at-cinestudio-from-april-3-april-6-immerse-yourself-in-a-rich-se/1490910872107756/

Focus on French Cinema

Alliance Française of Greenwich

20th Anniversary!

Francophone Film Festival Apr.24-May 4th

Pre Screenings Now


Opening Night Apr. 24th at The Avon Theatre


Newly released exclusive award winning films not available on any streaming platforms!

ALL FILMS IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES


https://focusonfrenchcinema.eventive.org/welcome


Our Partnership with Frantastique

Celebrate Francophonie with us!


Try Fantastique for a whole month for free! The interactive, daily lessons only last 10 minutes and allow you to immerse yourself playfully and tailored to you in the French language.


After an assessment test, the lessons adapt to your level and interests, for optimal learning progress.


Discover Aimigo at the end of your lessons, your new AI-powered virtual friend with whom you can practice speaking. Aimigo helps you feel more confident when speaking and can discuss a variety of topics with you!

Click HERE TO TEST FOR FREE.

Membership Renewal

Dear Colleagues,

Memberships are from Sept.-August. If you have not already renewed your membership,

renew now.

Your benefits include:  

-Participation in the events of the Alliance Française (See programs on our website https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/

-Close communication with the Alliance (emails, newsletter, Bulletin)

-Exclusive and free participation in Le Café Littéraire

-Access to the French classes at the Alliance Française of New Haven

-Participation in Le Ciné-Club

-Access to Culturethèque Your French multimedia e-library!

-Links to other Francophones and Francophiles .


Cost: Student: $30, Senior: $35, Individual: $45, Couple: $55, Family: $60

You may pay online at https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/online-payment or you may pay with a check. If full membership is difficult for some due to financial constraints, please let us know. Send us an email at alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com Please make checks payable to the Alliance Française of New Haven. Send payment to Alliance Française of New Haven, P.O. Box 207333, New Haven, CT 06520.

Co-sponsored by the  Federation of Alliances Françaises USA

Apéro National French Conversation Group (en français) – Every Wednesday

The group is for high-intermediate to advanced (or fluent) speakers who are current members of an Alliance Française chapter in the U.S. (if you are not a current member of an Alliance chapter, visit the Chapter’s page and sign up for membership at one of your closest AF chapters) or AATF members. Native speakers are welcome. This group conversation is for adult participants, ages 17 and up.

Note that conversation groups are not substitutes for taking an official French class. Conversation groups are for informal practice and for sharing the joy of conversing in French with other like-minded Francophiles or Francophones.

The national group meets by Zoom for an hour every Wednesday, and meets to accommodate our after-work Apéro theme:

Every Wednesday @ 5:00 PT / 7:00 pm CT / 8:00 pm ET

The group is hosted by a member of the Federation of Alliances Françaises board – Linda Witt. Attendees will be assigned to breakout rooms of 4-5 people, with each breakout session lasting 14 minutes. The rooms are then are re-created (for a different mix each time). In this way, participants get to meet and chat with a variety of participants from different backgrounds, regions, and fluency levels.

Participants will need to use Zoom (a free videoconferencing service). To get on the invitation list for the “Apéro-National” sessions, click here.

Adventures in the Louvre with Elaine Sciolino

Date: Apr 3 2025, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Join us as Elaine Sciolino, author of Adventures in the Louvre, guides us on a virtual visit to this magical space, making it her mission to show us how anyone can forge an intimate connection with the museum. She demystifies the Louvre, introducing us to her favorite artworks, both legendary and overlooked, and to the people who are the museum’s lifeblood: the curators selecting and arranging the works, the artisans producing frames and engravings, the builders overseeing restorations, the firefighters protecting the aging structure.

An irrepressible and charming travel companion, Sciolino takes us beyond the building’s imposing walls and behind the scenes to reveal a Louvre filled with unexpected mysteries, untold stories, and delights.

Click HERE to register.

“Paris Goods” Luxury Retailing and the Emergence of les Grands Magasins of Paris with Roger Mummert

Date: Apr 9 2025, 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Beginning in Medieval times, travelers came to Paris seeking les articles de Paris, the superior “Paris goods” found there. They still do. 

Early records kept by prévôts des marchands document the commerce that took place on the bridges and quays and in the markets of Paris. The prévôts also regulated trade guilds that, in turn, ensured that their artisans maintained quality standards. 

Retailing of "Paris Goods" blossomed in the 19th century with the industrial revolution and the rising wealth of the bourgeoisie. The construction of passages couverts transformed commerce from a street activity to a colorful social event in gaslit arcades. This brought social changes, with the mixing of classes and the emergence of the grissette or shopgirl who became the subject of risqué literature. 

The advent of trains and steamship travel brought excursions of shoppers from afar. They flocked to glittering new department stores: Bon Marché, Printemps, Galleries Lafayette. These palaces of commerce added a theatrical exuberance to shopping in Paris.

From the La Belle Époque to today, Paris has been synonymous with haute couture, prêt-à-porter and unsurpassed style and quality in fashion and luxury goods. Many leading fashion houses offer exhibits on the development of their premier brands: La Galerie Dior, Musée Yves St. Laurent, Musée Émile Hermès, la Fondation Cartier.

This presentation celebrates luxury retailing in a style that is unmistakably Parisian and revered around the world.

Click HERE to register.

Turds, Guns, Graves, Rats and Bad Dates: The City of Light in Paris Lost and Found

Apr 24 2025, 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Join author Scott Dominic Carpenter and the Fédération’s Charles Coulon for a lively discussion about Scott's new book, Paris Lost and Found. Reviewed as “the funniest book I’ve ever read that also made me cry” (Secrets of Paris), the memoir captures the City of Light in all its authentic quirkiness. (Conducted in English.)

Book description: Paris Lost and Found

What to do when life smacks you down? Head for Paris, of course!

In this book, the author of French Like Moi (2020) returns to the scene of the crime with more tales of intrigue. This time, he’s reeling from loss—and hoping the City of Light will come to his rescue. From bizarre encounters on the Metro to comical clashes with authority figures, including a quixotic battle against a flock of migrant parrots, and even the tribulations of dating, Paris Lost and Found unveils sides of the great city that are as quirky as they are authentic. With a unique blend of wit, insight, and wistfulness, Carpenter charts a path through a labyrinth of challenges—only to emerge on the other side, squinting into the bright light of hope and new beginnings.

Click HERE to register.

INFORMATION FOR SHARING AND FUN

  • Dis-moi Dix mots 2025
  • 2025 French Tech for Teens Student Documentary Competition: The mission of this competition is to encourage students in grades 6-12 to learn more about French technological innovations. Entries can be in English or French, and students can choose a historical or current French technological innovation for their documentary.  
  • Do your students and members know the history of Mardi Gras
  • Read about the new language requirements for French residency cards here.  
  • France Today is offering the following for AF Members: "France Today" Membership: 3 months free trial and "Bonjour Paris" Membership 50% off.
Members and attendees at events/cultural programs should be aware that their picture might be taken and used for our website, advertising, etc. If you’d prefer not to be photographed, just wave the photographer away.