| Irish contestant's 'X Factor' success 'a fix', say critics Mary Byrne's 'X Factor' success has been called a "fix" after mass voting from her Tesco colleagues. feeds.breakingnews.ie |
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg: No 14 Jacques Demy, 1964Against a sumptuous backdrop of jewel-coloured houses filled with candy-striped rooms, two of the most enchanting young leads ever captured on celluloid – Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo – fall passionately in love. From the off, Jacques Demy's 1964 masterpiece, in which every line is sung, impresses as a super-stylish paean to the MGM musicals, complete with a swinging score by Michel Legrand and bustling street scenes choreographed with the minute precision and contagious energy of Gene Kelly's finest work. But if 50s America was the land of the happy ever after, Demy's film marks very different, distinctly European territory, as a call-up to the Algerian war for Castelnuovo leaves his newly pregnant lover bereft. Gradually the fairytale withers, and yet the music carries on. The film is transformed into something entirely unique – a musical as bright and beautiful as any you'll ever see, which swiftly becomes a sad and soulful tale characterised by that least romantic of all things: disappointed compromise. Demy doesn't pull his emotional punches – the pain of loss and dying hope is palpable in every visually delectable frame – and his star-crossed lovers keep singing right up to a snow-laden, final scene of devastating emotional power. Unforgettable.RomanceCatherine DeneuveWorld cinemaJane Grahamguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Iron Chef big bucks a big flop for Seven FOR the second time this year, the Seven Network has paid big bucks for a TV format that has been a huge success overseas, only for it to fall a little flat with Australian audiences. news.com.au |
Cheryl Cole reaches out to Ashley Pop singer Cheryl Cole has not ruled out extending the hand of friendship to her ex-husband as she opened up about the collapse of her marriage to footballer Ashley Cole. feeds.breakingnews.ie |
Anne Frank Comic Book: Holocaust Explored in Graphic Novel The new graphic novel Anne Frank -- The Graphic Biography aims to make the story of the Holocaust accessible to everyone. But some in Germany worry that it trivializes the tragedy feedproxy.google.com |