Proust fans fight to restore his muse's grave
Devotees of Marcel Proust are banding together to save the grave of an airman who drowned aged 25 when his plane crashed in the Mediterranean just off Antibes on the Côte d'Azur in May 1914.
Alfred Agostinelli, a Monaco-born chauffeur who stirred unrequited passion and jealousy in the author, has long been recognised as a pivotal figure in the creation of À la Recherche du Temps Perdu ('In Search of Lost Time').
Albertine, the enigmatic young woman in Proust's monumental seven-volume opus, is a symbol of elusive love and jealousy and a feminised version of the man Proust recruited first as his driver and then as his live-in secretary at his home on the Boulevard Haussmann in Paris.
Agostinelli was seen for decades by Proustiens
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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
‘I've been crucified!' Sarah Jessica Parker on dating, delis – and surviving three decades of Carrie haters
Carrie Bradshaw was undoubtedly not intended as a hate figure when Sex and the City first aired. But in recent years, a curious cultural shift has occurred: newer fans have started to see Carrie, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, as the most toxic thing about the horny, headline-grabbing show. An entire website, Carrie Bradshaw Is the Worst, was devoted to explaining why Carrie sucked. (The most common complaints: she cheated on nice guy Aidan; talked about herself too much.) One viral essay posited that Carrie was TV's first female antihero. Parker, 60 and still synonymous with pop culture's most iconic single gal, has grown to love the term. 'I prefer that to any other description of her, because it allows her to be as male as the men have been. I love The Sopranos so much, and I look at all the times [Tony] was unlawful, and we loved him. Carrie has an affair and everybody falls apart,' says Parker ruefully. 'An antihero, to me, is somebody that's not behaving in conventional ways, and she hasn't ever.' She pauses. 'Am I crazy?' Another pause. 'A lot of people love her too, though!' Nobody could accuse Parker of being an antihero; in person, she is considered and endlessly gracious, eloquent in a way that puts her in stark contrast to Carrie, the garrulous character she made so indelible 27 years ago. In 2021, she returned to the role in spin-off And Just Like That with the same fizz and magnetism. Seated in a Paris hotel room for the European launch of the show's new season, Parker is tiny – her tininess magnified by the chicly gigantic grey V-neck she wears over a floral dress – and has impeccable posture, surely a holdover of her childhood years spent training as a ballet dancer. AJLT is a hugely divisive show – a marker of how relevant Sex and the City remains – largely because of its clunky handling of race and sexuality, though it arguably nails the way moneyed older people try, clumsily, to talk about progressive politics. Some fans hated the absence of Kim Cattrall's Samantha Jones, and the introduction of Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez), a non-binary standup who becomes Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon) love interest. But for many, the revival is a deft exploration of life after grief – Carrie's husband, Mr Big, dies in episode one – and a frothy ode to traditions that seem to be dying out: getting dressed up on a whim for brunch; finding romance in everyday life. This season – which focuses on Carrie's relationship with on-again, off-again beau Aidan, a handsome new neighbour played by Jonathan Cake, plus hijinks such as Miranda accidentally sleeping with a virgin lesbian nun – is just as delightful. Front and centre, of course, are Carrie's incredible outfits. She is always dressed to the nines, whether walking through the park in a gigantic hat that looks like a picnic basket or strutting through her apartment wearing a dress adorned with hundreds of jangly charms. (At one point, her proclivity for heels even becomes a key plot driver, as her downstairs neighbour asks her to invest in – gasp! – slippers.) This might be one of the show's most fantastical elements: a version of New York where everyone isn't just walking around in yoga sweats. How does Parker, a local style icon herself, feel about the city's shift to athleisure? 'I mean, I see a lot of people – women in particular – in New York in leggings. They are often on their way to, it seems to me, an exercise experience of some kind. I'm slightly allergic to me criticising the commitment to athleisure wear … You can't be a hypocrite about it if you believe in wearing what feels good when you walk out the door,' she says. 'There are occasions when I think: 'People should be dressed up, I want to see some effort,' but the idea of legislating that is counter to a lot of stuff we're meant to feel and live by. So, it's not creative but if you're comfortable, I mean, who am I?' Perhaps AJLT's main function, then, is as an appealingly joyful piece of escapism in catastrophically dark times. But in the new season, Parker hopes, the show takes on new depth, too. 'I was excited about the way the relationship with Aidan would sort itself out, because there's a new maturity to both parties, especially Carrie,' she says. 'It all sounded good to me – challenging, exciting, fun and hopefully funny.' Carrie's growth is one of the show's many changes that she welcomes with open arms. 'It's no surprise that at this point in her life, she's just more equipped, like we all are. I'm reacting differently to things now because I have a decade more experience,' she says. If she were still an antihero … well, that would be a hard sell. 'We've not seen Carrie at this point in her life – I think it's developmentally correct, but not that surprising. You know, she's not been a wildly hysterical person for the [entire] nine years spent on television!' The complexity of a character such as Carrie may have caused some of AJLT's new additions to seem one-note in comparison. Che Diaz, the 'queer non-binary Mexican-Irish diva', was one of its most controversial additions – a caricature of queer culture in stark contrast to the nuanced women who defined the original show. Che hasn't returned for season three. Parker says she was 'shocked' to discover the character was so widely reviled. 'A friend of mine brought it up to me, and it's like: 'What are you talking about?' And he said: 'Yeah, there's all this conversation,'' she recalls. 'I've been an actor for 50 years, and I've almost never paid attention to peripheral chatter. I loved working with them.' Viewers and critics may have had a problem with Che, but if anyone's flying the flag for Carrie, it's gen Z. On social media, Carrie is seen as the ultimate messy protagonist; flighty and flinty in equal measure, she is the perfect avatar for a generation obsessed with debating (and subsequently ignoring) red flags and turning traumatic events into pithy one-liners. Barely a day goes by when I don't see Carrie's 'Single & Fabulous?' New York magazine cover repurposed as aresponse to a modern embarrassment. Parker hasn't seen this phenomenon first-hand ('I'm not on TikTok myself – I don't say that pridefully, I'm just overwhelmed by the idea of it') but hears about it from friends' kids. 'It's curious, because their lives are so different – the language they use around dating is different,' she says. 'They're less patient. They're more punitive. They're not as forgiving of people's shortcomings. I'm not condemning it, it's just what I've heard. So it's really interesting that they feel so spirited about it. It doesn't mean they aren't objecting to Big and Carrie's relationship, or the way he treated her, or choices Carrie made. But people had those strong feelings back then, too.' Does she ever feel disheartened that the original show – a quarter century-old ur-text of heteropessimism – still feels so relevant to audiences now, who find the carnival of dud men dated by Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha painfully relatable? 'I think it would be a reason to feel disheartened, but the show is also about finding home and contentment, whatever home means to you,' says Parker. 'I feel that 20- and 30-year-olds should be searching. There should be something in the distance that's important and exciting, and worth the wait. Part of it is rather dreary that great women of all ages are still incredibly frustrated by the dating scene, but I also see a lot of happy endings.' The culture around Sex and the City is cyclical in more ways than one. In the 2000s, the show was criticised for accelerating the gentrification of New York's meatpacking district; now, New Yorkers are fretting about the arrival of the West Village Girl, a new city transplant who treats the neighbourhood as 'a fabulous theme park … to live out Sex and the City fantasies', is how New York magazine recently described it. I ask Parker if, as a longtime West Village resident, she's heard of this stereotype, which has caused endless conversation online recently, and she immediately turns sheepish, admitting that her husband Matthew Broderick worded her up on the terminology the week prior. 'We see it all the time. I mean, every single place has lines round the corner, there's young girls dressed in very fine threads everywhere, and they're all stopping in the street and taking their pictures, raising a camera up high,' she says, holding her arm up as if taking an 0.5 selfie. Parker is rattling off the West Village Girl description with ease; for a second, I feel as if I'm in one of Sex and the City's brunch scenes in which the ladies pontificate, with relish, on the hot topics of the day. 'But I remember they said that about the meatpacking, too – they said we ruined it. I recall being crucified for that. It happens – the West Village is a very charming advent calendar kind of neighbourhood, and it's been through many versions of this, and the true born-and-raised West Villagers have always complained about it, and rightly so, because it's priced people out. She continues: 'Retail rent has gone way high, the price of a coffee – because they're not going to the deli! If you would just go to the deli,' – she cups her hand around her mouth as if trying to reach the West Village girls through a megaphone – 'Just go support Sam's Deli on West 4th Street! But I think that's the nature of these things … you've seen the lines for a croissant that's not really croissant – is it a bagel? Is it a donut? Then they top it off with some whipped cream and olive oil and salt and people go mad for it.' Today's New York – exclusively a playground for the wealthy, some say – is a far cry from the New York Parker grew up in, after her family moved in an RV from Cincinnati to Roosevelt Island in 1977 in search of opportunity. She frets about the inaccessibility of the city to working-class people 'constantly.' 'It's beyond a concern – New York has become impossible for artists, [whether] ballet dancers, photographers, whomever. We haven't had the kind of political support in our city to really be smart and innovative about affordable housing and protecting culture. It's our biggest export – so when we're not able to offer shelter to the people producing that, and focus on tax breaks for big corporations, we lose what makes us singular,' she says. 'It's like an epidemic, this constantly untreated problem. We all do better for having [artistic] communities. Every study in the world shows it.' It was New York's deep-rooted arts scene that nurtured Parker's entire career, from her stint being directed – as a child – by Harold Pinter in a Broadway production of The Innocents to her time performing in experimental theatre to her role as Carrie. It's somewhat surprising she was so game to return to the character given that she's gone to such efforts to break free of the Carrie archetype with projects such as the 2016 drama Divorce or last year's stage revival of Plaza Suite, with Broderick, in London – not to mention being a judge for the 2025 Booker prize. Was there ever, I wonder, any reluctance? I read her a quote from 2006 by her former co-worker Cattrall, in which she says there's a 'darkness' to playing an iconic character, because those around you can lose sense of where the character ends and you begin. Parker, who has famously fallen out with Cattrall in recent years, seems to stiffen slightly at the mention of her name, before relaxing when realising the question is not about her. 'Being a public person is complicated,' she says. 'It asks you to be generous of spirit at times in which you might have a child having a meltdown at an airport, or you're having a tough conversation on the phone. But if that's my cross to bear, I'm in a pretty enviable place.' And Just Like That is on Sky Comedy and Now in the UK. In the US and Australia, it airs on Max.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Media giant Canal+ strikes settlement with French tax authorities
Shares in Canal+ rose on Friday after the London-listed media conglomerate settled a tax dispute with the French Government. The StudioCanal owner, which listed in London last December, told investors it expects no impact on cash from the settlement. French authorities had accused the Paris-based company, formerly a subsidiary of telecoms giant Vivendi, of incorrectly applying lower rates of value-added tax on some of its services. Canal+ had warned that the dispute could have potentially cost it around €655million. It anticipates recording some exceptional charges in its first-half results, but told investors the settlement 'removes uncertainty regarding the possibility of a material additional disbursement'. Alongside this, the firm upheld its full-year outlook on turnover and earnings before nasties, with the latter expected to total approximately €515million. It came as Canal+ said it was on track to achieve organic growth this year because of a 'material one-off cash improvement'. But the business cautioned that this would be offset by the end of some contracts and the closure of terrestrial television channel C8 in February. The group's distribution deal with Disney+ ended at the start of 2025, resulting in its roughly 27 million subscribers losing access to the streaming service. In late February, C8 shut down after regulators revoked its broadcasting licence following accusations of promoting fake news and conspiracy theories. Consequently, its first-quarter turnover fell by 2.5 per cent to €1.55billion, although organic sales increased by 1.5 per cent, thanks to a robust performance by its film studios division. StudioCanal's recent box office successes include the animated sequel Paddington In Peru, horror film The Monkey, romantic drama We Live in Time, and comedy Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy. In a rare victory for the UK capital, Canal+ went public on the London Stock Exchange last year after Vivendi shareholders voted to spin off the group. It debuted with an estimated £2.5billion valuation, making it the LSE's largest flotation in two years. Just 45 businesses applied to join the main London market in 2024, compared to 59 the year before and 111 in 2022, according to the Financial Conduct Authority. By comparison, 88 companies delisted or transferred their primary listing from the LSE, the largest number since the global financial crisis in 2008, figures from EY have shown. Canal+ shares rose 7.1 per cent to 215p on Friday morning, although this is far below its initial public offering price of 290p.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Pregnant Katherine Ryan reveals STAGGERING cost of Kris Jenner's face lift after visiting her surgeon Dr Steven Levine
KRIS Jenner has amazed fans with her age-defying face lift that makes her look 'decades younger.' The 69-year-old matriarch of the Kardashian clan recently showed off her youthful appearance as she supported daughter Kim, 44, in Paris at her burglary court case. 9 9 9 Kris ' rep confirmed she had "work" done but stopped short of sharing the exact procedure. However, comedian Kathrine Ryan, 41, - who revealed she is pregnant with her fourth child - has claimed the momager had a face lift with Dr. Steven Levine that cost in the six figures. Appearing on the Saving Grace podcast, hosted by TikTok star GK Barry (Grace Keeling), 25, she shared: 'I heard through like the Jewish Broadway grapevine, yep, to which I am connected, of course, that it is Dr Steven Levine. 'I've seen this beautiful style, and it's a mix of science and artistry. 'And when I had a consultation with him, he showed me before and afters of non famous consenting people to show. 'And he just does something that the others don't.' A ref for Kris has previously told Page Six: "We can confirm that Dr. Steven Levine did Kris Jenner's recent work.' KRIS' FACE LIFT PRICE Grace asked about how much Katherine was quoted and how much Kris' jaw-dropping work could have cost. The comedian replied: 'So the price is different for everyone.' Khloe Kardashian breaks Mother's Day tradition with Kris Jenner gift Grace joked that he may have racked it up a bit for Kris 'as she has money.' Katherine replied: 'And she probably wanted to not be on a wait list to get in, to get out. 'The quote was $174,000 okay.' The price equates to around £130,000 in the United Kingdom. Grace replied: 'I mean, that's a one bedroom house in Notting Hill.' 9 DECADES YOUNGER However, the podcast host praised the plastic surgery work hailing it the 'best thing since sliced bread.' Grace continued: 'It's mad that is she like 70. That woman genuinely looks 30. 'I think it looks in like one of the best things I have ever seen in my life.' Katherine agreed, calling it 'beautiful'. She added: 'I think some of the best face lifts that we're seeing in Hollywood now are Dr Stephen Levine.' Kris has previously admitted to having Botox, fillers, a boob job, and a face lift, which she had back in 2011 before Kim's wedding to Kanye West, 47. KATHERINE'S FACE LIFT 9 Both Grace and Katherine said they were tempted, with the latter saying: 'I WILL have a face lift.' Katheine, who hasn't had any cosmetic surgery on her face so far – although she has had filler, Botox, and a boob job – revealed that she is not only planning a face lift but is also considering additional treatments. Katherine, a mother of three, admitted she is seriously thinking about it after gifting her mum a face lift for her birthday. She added: 'Recovery is fine. 'She looked beautiful, like day one, she looked good. 'Been a swelling days like two to 12, and then she looked good again, and she was going out. 'Now she wasn't under scrutiny, being like papped, but she looked good, and she couldn't feel her face. 'She was medicated, which some would say is the best part. She was fine.' What is a face lift and how quick is the recovery? A FACE lift (technically called a rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgical procedure which tries to reduce visible signs of ageing in the face and neck. The procedure begins with either general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation to ensure you're comfortable and pain-free. The surgeon makes incisions based on the type of face lift. The surgeon lifts the skin and underlying tissues (SMAS layer – superficial musculoaponeurotic system). Fat may be sculpted, removed, or redistributed. The underlying muscle and connective tissues are tightened and repositioned to create a more youthful look. The skin is gently laid back over the newly repositioned contours and incisions are closed with sutures (medical stitch) or skin adhesives. Recovery time varies, but most people return to normal activities within two to four weeks. MUM'S FACE LIFT Katherine previously revealed that she paid '50 grand' for her mum to have a face lift. Speaking on Vogue Williams' Never Live It Down podcast, the actress explained that her mum Julie was 63 at the time and added that it was a 'good age to get a face lift.' Katherine defended getting work done and said: 'I think there are people who look at plastic surgery, cosmetic, you know, treatments, anything, and they feel sad. 'They're like, 'there are more important things in life'. We know! ''She should love herself more'. I do! 'Those are the funniest comments when men will try to be allies, and they'll come in and they'll go, 'do you know, ladies, men don't actually want you to'. 'And I go, 'nothing that we do is for you at all. I don't care what you think'. ''I don't care if you live or die.'.' PREGNANT KATHERINE This comes as Katherine has revealed she's expecting baby number four. The 41-year-old and her partner Bobby Koostra will welcome another baby together, in an exciting addition to their family, just two months after Katherine's skin cancer diagnosis. 9 Katherine has two children with her husband Bobby, including son Fred, three, and daughter Fenna, two, as well as 15-year-old Violet from a previous relationship. And now, she'll be adding baby number four to the brood, as reported by Hello! The TV star had a mole removed privately last week, but after it was discovered to be cancerous, Katherine had to undergo another procedure. She then revealed she has melanoma on the latest episode of her podcast Telling Everybody Everything. It's the second time Katherine has been diagnosed with the disease, after having first had it at the age of 21 in 2004.
