My Cousin Maria Schneider by Vanessa Schneider, translated by Molly Ringwald
Author
:
Vanessa Schneider, tr. Molly Ringwald
ISBN-13
:
9781472158574
Publisher
:
Corsair
Guideline Price
:
£10.99
Recounting the press coverage of her cousin Maria Schneider's death (known to most of us as the actor from Last Tango in Paris), Vanessa Schneider writes: 'No one writes about how, when you die, you are sipping champagne, your favourite drink … You leave us amidst bubbles and bursts of laughter, loving faces and smiles – upright with your head held high, a little tipsy. With panache.'
Beside this, in the margin I have written 'the dream'. Not that Maria's life was a dream, but scenes like this show Vanessa's magnificent balance of tone .
There is something distinctly French in this ability to recount injustice and pain without wallowing in it. There's an enviable simplicity of form, reminiscent of a jumbled photograph album, with each section recounting a memory or fact taken (seemingly) at random.
Vanessa's sentences, too, translated by another actor, Molly Ringwald, put me in mind of those of Annie Ernaux, in their all-encompassing brevity. It's almost as if the best French writing is like the best French fashion, each paragraph conveying its message with straightforward elegance. She even pulls off the (usually dangerously insipid) second person, writing directly to 'you', Maria – no mean feat.
READ MORE
As for Maria herself, it's quickly made clear that the perfect storm of an abusive mother, a manipulatively charismatic father, precocious physical attractiveness, natural talent, a taste for fun and professional mistreatment all led, perhaps inevitably, to addiction.
Yet, although her heroin problem is recounted in graphic detail, it's again without the excess of pathos one might fear from an adoring relative. I felt only admiration when Vanessa writes: 'There are few people who admit to fearing the madness of others and fleeing in the face of it. [He] put into words our family's ambivalence – the rush of relief, and the attendant shame we feel when we don't hear from you.'
All in all, this is a timely recounting of the toxic misogyny that existed in filmmaking in the 1970s, contained within a candid yet loving celebration of an actor who was offered up as one of its many female sacrifices. Yet, despite the numerous harrowing events of her life, one comes away from these pages admiring rather than pitying Maria. A quiet triumph.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Wolf Moon by Arifa Akbar: On the night shift
Wolf Moon Author : Arifa Akbar ISBN-13 : 978-1399712859 Publisher : Sceptre Guideline Price : £16.99 Wolf Moon by Arifa Akbar is a book I wanted to like. Its central question—'What does it mean to be a woman in the night?'— serves as a loose thread binding together memoir, cultural criticism and feminist theory. Akbar's experiences of menopausal insomnia lead into analyses of Louise Bourgeois's night drawings and Sarah Kane's 4.48 Psychosis. Visits to her father's care home are interwoven with eerie Pakistani folktales he once told her. She interviews night-shift workers, dancers in Lahore and security guards. She drifts through galleries, goes clubbing and attends late-night films. There's a perceptive reading of Henri Fuseli's The Nightmare, as well as some evocative descriptions of David Lynch scenes. The cultural references are obvious and a little self-consciously tasteful, but they are handled deftly. This is, unmistakably, a serious and intelligent book. Still, the cumulative effect is deadening. READ MORE The problem isn't the material, which is often fascinating, but Akbar's compulsive need to filter it through the dull strainer of introspective autotheory. Entire pages are padded with limp self-reflection—'I think back to' 'I felt' 'I wondered'—until the prose begins to sag under the weight of its own inwardness. The analytical intensity is often laughably disproportionate to the life being examined: 'I put a notebook beside my bed. I open it up the next morning. I write a few words down, but I am left straining for more.' There's also a wearying performance of liberal empathy. When she encounters sex workers dancing in Amsterdam's red-light district, she rushes to ally herself with them, as though fending off imagined accusations. 'I feel horrified,' she declares at a Jack the Ripper tour. 'I was in awe of her fortitude,' she writes of a security guard at her theatre, then asks, 'How did Maria remain invisible to me?' I am naturally distrustful of anyone so easily scandalised. Again and again, moments that might have thrummed with tension are robbed of all charge. We don't just hear that she went to Berghain; we're told what Berghain is, then led through one of the tamest nights in club history. Not her fault, but it's hard to be invested in such a safe and orderly life. A book about night, yes, but drained of its Dionysian wildness.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Venezuela Fury's plans to make millions after Paris' nepo baby slur – from copying Princess Andre to ‘silent' TikToks
THE eldest of the Fury kids, Venezuela, has quickly become an influencer after the Combined with her ever-growing popularity on social media, Venezuela is on her way to making millions. 11 The stunning mother-and-daughter duo regularly turn heads with their ensembles Credit: Instagram 11 Paris and Venezuela often dress to match for lavish events Credit: Instagram But, while most naysayers can dismiss Venezuela's life-of-luxe as her being a nepo baby to the heavyweight boxer who has an eye-watering £162million in cash and investments in his firm - we can reveal it's all part of Money-making mum Mum-of-seven Paris' own influence has also grown enormously since the show aired and it's no doubt Paris will be trying to guide Venezuela to success. Fiercely proud of her Irish traveller roots, Paris uses her own platform to share stories of her upbringing and life as a gypsy wife, and her non-nonsense approach to raising so many kids without any at-home help has quickly made her one of the most popular and relatable mumfluencers out there. In May the Paris Fury LTD, recorded a yearly profit of almost £200,000, meaning Paris, 35, is raking in an More on Venezuela Fury Despite In their hit Netflix series, Paris accused her then 13 year old daughter of being a 'privileged little brat" and said she refuses to let her 'sponge' off her father's £40 million fortune. 11 Venezuela posed with her mum Paris and grandma Lynda Mulroy Credit: Instagram/parisfury1 However, now almost 16, it looks like Venezuela has taken note as she is now clearly carving out her own career within the hugely popular #GypsyTok social media arena. As well as her hugely popular outfit and GRWM videos, the fashion-loving teen recently announced she's flogging some of her pre-loved garments from the family's £1.7 million mansion on Vinted - which given her followers' appreciation for her wardrobe, could be lucrative. Most read in Celebrity Partnerships with P. Louise cosmetics and smaller fashion brands who do bespoke outfits for the traveller community like Patty Fashion and Cristalle could also be in the working. Fabulous' fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend says: "Something unique about Venezuela is her confidence. "For a 16-year-old to be brave enough and disciplined enough to constantly be active on social media, keeping up with their trends and sounds, showing off her clothes and lifestyle is pretty impressive. "For other influencers with her following, it's their full-time job. "If I were a brand looking for someone with a huge audience she'd be a go-to. "Brands from the Boohoo group (who now own Debenhams, PrettyLittleThing, Oasis, Karen Millen and Warehouse as well as Boohoo) would be foolish not to capitalise on her and her loyal following. But it will cost them. "She's already got a savvy business mind and is using her social presence to sell her old designer clothes on Vinted - and with an army of thousands - she could easily bag seven figures. "Looking at the likes of Princess Andre, another successful teen, at 18 years-old she's bagged deals as a brand ambassador for the likes of PrettyLittleThing and Superdrug. "There's a high chance Venezuela could achieve the same - if not better." Millionaire future 11 Venezuela is set to rake in a fortune after signing with top talent agency Credit: Instagram/parisfury1 11 Venezuela Fury, 15, is set to rake in millions thanks to her famous family and online brand Credit: Instagram Even when she's not singing along to songs on TikTok the teen, who is already over 6ft, has already caught the attention of modelling agencies, who have claimed that her unique style 'could make her a millionaire". And ahead of her 16th birthday this September, Venezuela has even signed with top talent agency, The Can Group, led by PR supremo Claire Powell. Paris is represented by the same agency who also successfully masterminded the careers of Peter Andre , and his children Junior, 20, and 18 year old Princess. A source told The Sun, "Signing Venezuela up to The Can Group is a very business-savvy decision by the Furys. Having worked with Peter Andre's kids Junior and Princess, the agency has already proved the value in taking on their clients' children. "There's already a lot of trust between all parties and the benefit of being able to mould them from a young age. "Venezuela made clear in the Netflix documentary that she has her own mind and is growing up fast. "She's still young, so has plenty of time to find her path. By the looks of things, she's going to be really successful." 11 Venezuela, right, is often see with glam mum Paris, second right, and stylish pals Credit: Instagram 11 Venezuela has a tanned glossy posse around her, including Lizzie and LaLa Saunders, who she went to Barbados with Credit: Instagram In the past few months alone the 15-year-old has been endlessly glammed up to the nines - schmoozing at Ascot, Paris . Queen traveller influencer While Venezuela might not turn 16 until September and yes, she did quit school at just 11, but the teen and her tight group of elite girl pals are already making huge waves on the social media scene. The uniform is bright colour- blocking or bejewelled outfits set off by deep, dark tans. Dior accessories hang off bangled wrists with big, show-stopping hair finishing the look and heavy, ornate bespoke jewellery of Catholic crosses or protective cherubs. 11 Venezuela is set to become the ultimate 'Queen traveller influencer' Credit: Instagram Known as traveller or gypsy influencers , the teen and her social media network of friends - mainly from Irish traveller or Roma backgrounds - Already with an impressive six million likes alone on her social media platforms, Venezuela's TikTok where she often doesn't even speak, but simply And her crew of influencer pals are all very well versed showing off their lifestyle only girls their age can dream of. Most of them like Venezuela left school at the age of 11 - which is custom in the traveller community - meaning they are free to enjoy days out shopping for new outfits, getting their nails done or enjoying lunches in London's swanky Knightsbridge. In April, holidays cramming for their exams. 'Beautiful' fans gasps as Venezuela Fury, 15, shows off her model-looks in 'stunning' gypsy wedding co-ord The group of friends stayed at Simon Cowell's favourite hotel in Sandy Lane where rooms can cost from £1300 per night and showcased their incredible holiday wardrobes to adoring followers. Weeks later, Venezuela was back home for a '#gypsywedding' and shared clips of herself wearing a glitzy and very expensive looking white diamante satin co-ord and gold heels. And it's usually Venezuela's jewel-encrusted and colourful outfits that get the most attention from fans online. And it's hardly surprising, Venezuela's girl group Caprice Welch 11 Venezuela and popular traveller influencer Caprice Welch often praise each other online Credit: Instagram One pal who also often likes Venezuela's fashion posts on social media is 17-year-old Caprice Welch. She's another popular influencer from the traveller community who likes to keep her 11,000 followers up-to-date on her super glam lifestyle, often with her and Venezuela sweetly commenting on how much they love each other on post. When they're not on holiday or dining out, traveller social gatherings are often where they hang out. While it's unknown if Venezuela was there, Caprice is a regular at Cambridge's Midsummer Fair - an annual event known as the 'Gypsy Fair' in the traveller community - along with fellow influencer Mary Bridget Stanley. Mary Stanley 11 Mary Bridget Stanley has nearly racked up a million followers on TikTok Credit: TikTok Mary - who has an incredible 954,000 followers on TikTok - joined Venezuela at Royal Ascot for Ladies' Day on June 20. The glam 19-year-old often shares 'get ready with me' videos, giving advice on the perfect pin curls as well as her skincare routine. In one video, she even gave a make-up tutorial for girls ahead of the traditional 'grabbing' courting ritual where the boys kiss and 'grab' the girl they like. Sienna Featon 11 Another member of Venezuela's girls group is Sienna Featon Credit: TikTok A close mate who is yet to burst onto the influencer scene but often features on her TikTok videos is also 16-year-old Sienna Featon who, like all of them, showcases her outfits and sings along to songs from her traveller trailer. And with that girl gang backing her, there could be no stopping her! How Venezuela Fury 'could be a millionaire by age 16' with her own modelling career WITH a heavyweight boxing champ for a dad and a bestselling author mum, it's likely that Venezuela Fury has a bright future ahead of her. And the 15-year-old is already shaping up to be one of the most popular teenagers on the internet, racking up 70,000 followers on Instagram and more than 200,000 followers on TikTok. The star has already caught the attention of modelling agencies, who have claimed that her unique style could make her a "millionaire by the time she's 16." Gemma Howorth, Founder of "Venezuela is very young but if correctly managed could really do well with a strong fashion-focused brand like Boohoo and then go on to develop an exciting modelling career," she said. According to Carol Needham, who runs "Seeing someone like Venezuela Fury is truly unique," Carol said. "She's almost 6ft tall at 15 years old and has her own signature style in modelling, especially with her teapot pose. "I wouldn't be surprised if PrettyLittleThing wanted to snap her up!" Princess signed a four-figure deal with the fast-fashion brand back in January, and some experts predict the move could see her become a millionaire by the time she's 18. by Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm dead' says fans as tennis ace wins bizarre trophy shaped like SHIPPING CONTAINER with replica selling for £1 online
TENNIS star Lois Boisson was handed a bizarre trophy following her stunning victory at the Hamburg Open. The French ace sealed what would be considered the biggest win of her career against Anna Bondar at the Rothenbaum Stadium. 5 Lois Boisson was given a shipping container trophy at the Hamburg Open Credit: Getty The trophy was a 3D-printed replica of a SHIPPING CONTAINER with the MSC cargo company logo on it. The company was announced as the tournament's sponsor earlier this month. The sponsorship was revealed on MSC's Instagram page as it created a tennis court housed within a wall of shipping containers. READ MORE ON TENNIS Boisson was still able to pull off a big smile as she held up the unconventional award. She posed for a picture next to runner-up Bondar, who was presented with a more traditional silver plate. Fans were left baffled by the trophy that Boisson was handed as they reacted on social media. One posted: "It's ugly but it's practical for a move." Most read in Sport JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS A second commented: "Why is the trophy a shipping crate? Somebody answer me." A third wrote: "I think it would look cool as a decoration on a shelf." Shipping company creates unique tennis court ahead of Hamburg Open A fourth joked: "She did not even get the Playmobil container truck that goes with it." A fifth said: "Is there a gift inside the box?" Another added: "I see those containers at the port." One more fan discovered that the container could be bought online for just €1.54 (£1.34). 5 A fan found the shipping container on sale online 5 Lando Norris won a Lego trophy at the British Grand Prix Credit: AFP They posted: "I'm dead, Lois Boisson's trophy is worth €1.54 on AliExpress." However, this does not include the plaque on the top that Boisson's trophy features. It is not the only bizarre-looking trophy that has been awarded in sports. F1 star The winner of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race is bestowed with Fans were left asking, "WTF is that?" 5 The Paris-Roubaix cycling race bet what loks like a big rock 5 Fans were stunned by this motorised trophy that Argentina played for in 2023 Credit: x
