Vive la France! Vive la Nation! Que faîtes-vous pour aujourd'hui? That's right, Bastille Day rolled up on you again and you didn't plan anything. C'est dommage. Well, here's a few fun ways to enjoy the birth of the republic that brought you Chanel, Goddard, Gainsborg, and tasty, tasty snails.
First off, La France, the new dreamy tale of French soldiers in World War I may be the best singalong tale of the Western front we've ever seen. Bring tissues. Also on the Cinematique tip, The New York Times' Richard Brody will be hosting a Q&A session about his book, Everything is Cinema: The Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard, before a screening of the directors 2001 romance In Praise of Love at the French Institute. Meanwhile, at the Lower East Side's Lolita Bar, humorist Tony Perrottet, "will toast the the legacy of the French Revolution by unveiling a replica of Napoleon's disembodied penis." Zut alors! The works of artist Louise Bourgeois are still on display at the Guggenheim, The Duplex will have a full night of cabaret dedicated to the holiday, and Galapagos will offer a night of the ancient French art of the burlesque. Finally, our amis over at New York Magazine have compiled a lovely list of gastronomical suggestions to help celebrate the day. Amusez-vous bien!