Learn about humor and comedy films in France
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| Side-Splitting French Fun Is Right Here! |
| In this lesson, we’re going to learn about French humor and comedy films. I’m Becky, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 19 - Side-Splitting French Fun Is Right Here! |
| Sometimes people in France like to get together in the evening to hang out after dinner. When you’re tired and don’t feel like going anywhere, a nice option is to talk and relax at home together, by watching a nice DVD. French people really like comedy, or comédie, like the one-man show with Gad Elmaleh, a very popular French comedian, or comédien. |
| The French sense of humor is unique, often involving irony, but mostly using plays on words, or in French jeux de mots. Gad Elmaleh uses word-play like many other French comedians. However, one of the comedians most famous for his prowess in this area is Pierre Desproges, who is unfortunately no longer with us. His ability to manipulate language was so complicated that it took most French people a good thirty seconds to understand what he had said, and then to laugh... |
| French humor is also characteristic of many French films. In fact, the most popular French films are the comedies that split people’s sides. In fact, the biggest box-office hits in French cinema, or cinéma, are “La Grande Vadrouille”, and “Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis”, which are two legendary comedies! If you ever get a chance to see them, take it! They’re excellent examples of French cinema. |
| This type of humor, or humour in French, is a big part of French culture and important to the French people. To understand the importance of laughter for the French, you just have to think of the well known, if risqué expression, “Femme qui rit, à moitié dans ton lit,” which means “A laughing woman is halfway into one's bed”. |
| So listeners, how did you like this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| What French comedians or films have you enjoyed? |
| Until next time! |
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