Latest news with #Philippe
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Party's Over' Review: South of France-Set Satire Follows an Escalating Class Conflict
'The Party's Over' is a mostly entertaining satire that follows the escalating conflict between an entitled rich couple, the Trousselards, and the Azizis, the husband and wife they employ (off the books and at less than market rates) to look after their luxurious holiday home. Both families have young adult daughters, near in age, albeit not in circumstance. Compared to a similarly-themed film such as 'Parasite,' it lacks the sharpness of plot and empathetic characters that would make it truly memorable. Nonetheless, the piece has a number of things going for it: top actors obviously relishing their roles, some amusing dialogue, a lovely villa location in the south of France and an attractive musical score by Clémence Ducreux that sounds both serious and mocking. Festivals and screening platforms rep the most likely venues outside of French-speaking countries to host the 'Party.' Snobbish, self-important Philippe (Laurent Lafitte, suitably obnoxious), a lawyer given to throwing obscure Latin locutions into his everyday speech, and his former actress wife Laurence (the elegant Élodie Bouchez) welcome young law graduate Mehdi (Sami Outabali, the most sympathetic character), the latest boyfriend of their wannabe actress daughter Garance (Noée Abita). That Mehdi comes from a different – and lower– social class is immediately obvious. Not only has he worked his way through school as a waiter and delivery boy, but he lacks the social graces of his hosts. From their point of view, everything he does is slightly off, from his clothing choices to his hostess gift to his conversation. More from Variety Neon Takes North America on Jafar Panahi's 'It Was Just an Accident' Mubi Buys Jafar Panahi's 'It Was Just an Accident' for Multiple International Territories (EXCLUSIVE) Lu Chuan on U.S.-China Tensions, New Projects 'Puffer Fish Girl' and 'You Are My Daughter,' Plus 'Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park' Doc (EXCLUSIVE) For the Trousselards, cushioned as they are by their money, seem to feel that those in service to them should be at their beck and call. Thus, Philippe feels justified in interrupting the Azizi's birthday dinner celebration for their daughter Marylou (Mahia Zrouki) to get Tony (Ramzy Bedia) to fix a clogged sink. And Laurence feels free to tell Tony to refrain from going about his chores shirtless and to ask his wife Nadine (Laure Calamy, delightful) to be careful of smears when she cleans their windows. The Trousselards don't hesitate to dispense unsolicited advice to Mehdi, too. Laurence explains that the reason that Philippe's firm hires sons of lawyers as interns is because they have confidence and know the milieu of the clients. She tells Mehdi that he is too polite and apologetic. When Philippe's condescending manner finally provokes Tony, who likes a drink or two, into an attack that Philippe considers unforgivable, he decides to dismiss the Azizis. But Tony and Nadine prove resistant. As tensions rise, Mehdi offers himself for the dangerous role of go-between, to negotiate a settlement between the warring sides. Along the way, the screenplay aptly skewers Philippe's type, the sort of man who delights in cooking the produce of his organic garden, pairing expensive wines with his meals, yet doesn't know the correct temperature at which to wash a load of whites. The acting profession also comes in for a few jabs. Laurence launched her career as a skimpily-clad ingenue. When Mehdi tells her the name of his father's favorite film, she notes wryly, 'That film captured the male imagination. But don't worry, I've made some with clothes on too.' To prepare for her first role, Garance tries and fails to summon tears, but by the film's end, she finds that she can make them flow all too easily when recounting a fiction of supreme importance to her family. Helmer Cordier assembles an ace ensemble, whose acting choices are always fun to watch. A particular standout scene comes when Calamy insists that Bouchez (who also lounges by a pool in a swimsuit in the Directors' Fortnight opener 'Enzo') join her in a hot tub. 'Party' marks Cordier's fourth feature. It screens in the Directors' Fortnight 20 years after his feature debut, 'Cold Showers.' Best of Variety The Best Albums of the Decade
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Private Maldives island comes with one-of-a-kind Ferrari - but it'll cost you
The Ferrari Testa Rossa J has been brought to the Maldives island for guests who exclusively hire Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi - but it will cost you a pretty penny A private island stay in the Maldives, costing a whopping £55,000-a-night, has just upped its luxury game by importing a Ferrari for guests to drive around the resort. The Ferrari Testa Rossa J is a 75% reproduction of the iconic Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa – a model that holds a significant place in the annals of Ferrari and motor racing history. This exclusive vehicle, the only car on the island, has been shipped over for the use of guests who hire Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi exclusively. Only 299 of these £110,000 cars were ever produced. The full-sized version, which can fetch a staggering £28,000,000, famously became the first car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times. The EV Ferrari Testa Rossa J will be available exclusively for private island guests to test drive during their stay - and is included in the price when guests hire the island. Ithaafushi, the largest private island in the Maldives, spanning over 344,000 square-feet, can ordinarily accommodate 24 guests. However, those hiring the island privately can use the EV Ferrari to travel between private yoga sessions, the five pools and numerous restaurants. This comes after Waldorf Astoria Ithaafushi, also known as Pearl Island in the Maldivian language Dhiveh, partnered with Hedley Studios - formerly The Little Car Company. The scaled-down electric icon Ferrari will be there for a year. It was developed from the original drawings of the original - which conquered the 1000km in Buenos Aires and the 12 Hours of Sebring with the driving duo Phil Hill and Peter Collins. In addition to the car, guests can also savour customised menus and have close encounters with wild turtles and whale sharks. The price for a night's stay on the island varies, but it is believed to be around £55,000. The world of mega-exclusive holidays is a fascinating one, even if most of us can only ever dream of affording one. Philippe Brown has been organising incredible trips for society's uber wealthy for decades, having spent 13 years as a location scout and then tour guide in some of the world's most exotic destinations. During the past ten years he has been "challenging the status quo of luxury travel" at Brown and Hudson. Incredibly wealthy people in search of something special contact the firm before Philippe and his colleagues attempt to work out their hopes, fears and secret dreams. These are then used as the basis for weird and wonderful holidays they create by throwing huge amounts of cash at the issue, and using their connections to pull some strings. We spoke to Philippe about the stranger trips he has arranged. You can read all about them here.
Local France
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Prosecutor seeks dismissal in French government Covid response probe
The Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) launched the probe in July 2020 over complaints that the government mismanaged its reaction to the virus's spread, including a lack of protective gear and unclear guidance over mask wearing. The CJR is the only court authorised to prosecute and try former and current government members for alleged crimes and offences committed in the exercising of their official duties. Philippe, as well as former health minister Agnes Buzyn, and her successor, Olivier Veran, were named as assisted witnesses – a status in the French legal system that falls between that of a witness and a formal suspect. While the CJR's investigation committee has the final say, the prosecutor's request for dismissal makes a trial less likely for the politicians involved. Philippe, a popular premier from 2017-2020, is mayor of the northern city of Le Havre and leads a right-centre party allied with, but not part of, Macron's centrist faction. Advertisement He is the only leading contender to firmly declare his intention to stand in the 2027 presidential election, where polls show him as the strongest candidate from the centre to take on the far-right. 'The investigation found that the government had taken numerous measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic,' said CJR public prosecutor, Remy Heitz, adding the investigation could not establish that Philippe or Veran committed wilful failure to respond to a disaster. For her part, Agnes Buzyn had been sharply criticised for leaving her post at the start of the health crisis to run for mayor of Paris. But she left on February 16, 2020 – a few days before an official disaster was declared in France. 'No disaster as defined by the criminal code had yet been identified on the national territory, as the first death of a Covid-19 patient in France occurred on February 25, 2020,' said the prosecutor general's office. Buzyn had also been under investigation for endangering the lives of others, but France's Court of Cassation dropped that charge in January 2023.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Meet Princess Elisabeth, Belgium's Future Queen, Studying At Harvard
The academic halls of Harvard Kennedy School in Massachusetts welcomed a new face in 2024 - not just another high-achieving student but a future monarch. Princess Elisabeth, who turned 23 on October 25, 2024, began a two-year master's programme in public policy last September. While she may not yet be a familiar name in the United States, she's a royal figure destined to shape history. Hello USA ! ???? La Princesse Elisabeth a commencé son master en politiques publiques à la @Kennedy_School. ???? — Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) September 18, 2024 To mark the beginning of her new academic journey last year, the Belgian Royal Palace had also shared photos of Princess Elisabeth on social media. The photos showed the princess embracing a laid-back student aesthetic in jeans and a sleeveless top - a world away from the formal attire usually associated with royal life. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Princess Elisabeth of Belgium (@duchessofbrabant) As the eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Princess Elisabeth holds the title of Duchess of Brabant and is next in line to the throne. When her time comes, she will become Belgium's first Queen regnant - a significant milestone in the country's royal history. For now, Elisabeth is immersing herself in life as an international student far from home. She earned her Bachelor's degree in History and Politics from Lincoln College, Oxford University, UK, in July 2024. Before that, in 2020, she completed her International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College in Wales. The Belgian royal family's website says that before beginning her two-year programme in Wales, the Princess studied at the Dutch-speaking Sint-Jan Berchmans college in Brussels. She also took part in the Yale Young Global Scholars Program at Yale University. While her academic credentials are impressive, Elisabeth's resume is far from conventional. Before her university days, she spent a year at Belgium's Royal Military Academy - a move seen as part of her preparation for future royal duties. She is also a polyglot, fluent in four languages - Dutch, French, German and English. Despite her studies abroad, Princess Elisabeth frequently returns to Belgium and stays actively engaged in public life, attending events alone or alongside His Majesty the King and her family. According to the Belgian royal family's website, "She is sporty and likes skiing, rowing and sailing. She really enjoys walking and being in touch with nature." Elisabeth was born in 2001 as the first child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. As the eldest of four siblings, she is the heir to the Belgian throne. According to reports, the Belgian law of succession was amended just a decade before her birth. Had she been born earlier, her younger brother Gabriel would have been next in line, according to the palace website.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kim Novak Documentary Biopic ‘Kim Novak's Vertigo' Acquired by Dogwoof (EXCLUSIVE)
Dogwoof has acquired world sales rights for Kim Novak documentary biopic 'Kim Novak's Vertigo,' directed and written by Alexandre O. Philippe. 'Kim Novak's Vertigo,' which is a working title, is in post-production, and is due for delivery this fall. It marks Dogwoof's fourth collaboration with Philippe, following '78/52,' 'Memory: The Origins of Alien' and 'Lynch/Oz.' More from Variety 'Robin and the Hoods,' Starring Naomie Harris and Gwendoline Christie, Sells to U.S., Multiple Other Territories, Ahead of Cannes Market (EXCLUSIVE) World War II Drama 'Never Alone' From Klaus Haro Sells to Multiple Territories (EXCLUSIVE) Martin Scorsese to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Italy's Taormina Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE) The film is an intimate portrait of the fiercely independent star, who left Hollywood behind to live life on her own terms, 'revealing a haunting, resilient journey of art, identity and authenticity in the shadow of one of cinema's most iconic roles,' according to Dogwoof. The film will blend rare archival footage with personal reflections from Novak and glimpses into her reclusive life along Oregon's wild Rogue River, and traces her path from mid-century cinema icon to fiercely private artist. Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' remains her most iconic role, and the film explores how that performance — and the duality it captured — mirrors the ongoing tension between image and identity that shaped her life. There has been a resurgence of media interest in Novak recently, following the announcement of Colman Domingo's directorial debut, 'Scandalous!,' starring Sydney Sweeney in the role of Novak and David Jonsson as Sammy Davis Jr. Doc's production company is Gull House Films. The producers are Terri Piñon and Philippe, and the executive producer is Sue Cameron. The director of photography is Robert Muratore. The second camera operator is Jeff Pointer. The editor is David Lawrence. The composer is Jon Hegel. Sound design and sound mixing is by Phillip Lloyd Hegel. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
