Armchair Escapism 27

BOOKS

Watching over her, Jean-Baptiste Andrea

The book begins in a remote Italian monastery, where Mimo, a controversial sculptor, is taking his last breaths. He has lived there for 40 years among the monks who stand by his deathbed to hear his life story. He reveals his impoverished upbringing, his journey to becoming a skilled artist, and his meeting with Viola, Mimo’s undeniable yet unattainable soulmate. The two grow alongside each other through the turmoil of 20th-century Italy, both aware that their paths will ultimately diverge. This is a beautiful, powerful, and poignant tale of star-crossed love and clinging to the right people when the rest of the world misunderstands you.

Crossing the Wine Dark Sea, Emily Wilson

In a continuation of - but also a departure from - the hype surrounding The Odyssey, Crossing the Wine Dark Sea is a fantastically relevant deep dive into modern interpretations of ancient classics. The author, Emily Wilson, who famously translated Homer’s Odyssey, explores the challenges of translation and the joys of immersing yourself into ancient literature. Wilson of course references the greatest texts of the past but compares them against contemporary debate and culture, drawing on connections to figures ranging from Cardi B and Boris Johnson to Han Kang.  

Jules et Jim, Henri-Pierre Roché

Best friends, Jules and Jim are young, carefree, wild men bouncing around the streets of Paris almost always at one another’s side. They share everything, even the women they love, until the spirited Catherine threatens the balance of their effortless friendship. Both their hearts are captured by her beauty and her energy, while she too struggles to understand her feelings for both men. In this semi-autobiographical novel, Henri-Pierre Roché explores his characters’ dilemmas with humour and depth, proving the complexities of love both platonic and beyond. 

FILMS

Le Grand Meaulnes
One of the greatest classics of French Literature was adapted into a film in the mid-2000s. In many ways, it fought an uphill battle because nothing can quite compare to the words written by Alain Fournier. Nonetheless, this charming adaptation brings to life the magic realism and the mystery of a stunning story. The plot follows François, a teenager who comes to worship the new boy at school, dubbed by all as “Le Grand Meaulnes”. One day, Meaulnes goes missing but returns with tales of a mysterious grand estate where he met and fell in love with a young woman. The two boys go on a mission to find the object of Meaulnes's desires, though she proves harder to track down than they anticipated. Our beautiful characters convey the challenges that accompany the excitements of growing up, falling in love, and having the rest of their life before them.

Breathless

Directed by the master of French New Wave, Jean-Luc Godard, Breathless is the exhilarating story of a small-time crook (played by the magnetic Jean-Paul Belmondo) on the run from the authorities after a sudden crime spree. In his attempt to flee the law, he tries to persuade Patricia, a chic American journalism student in Paris, to escape with him to Italy. Many consider Breathless one of the most pivotal films in cinema history, and it isn't hard to see why.

A Burning Hot Summer
As we move into the cooler months of the year, A Burning Hot Summer gives us a final burst of Mediterranean intensity. However, the film is less about the weather and more about the volatile passions of its main protagonists. The ever-dazzling Monica Bellucci plays Angèle, an actress married to the brooding French painter, Frédéric. Their intense love begins to crack under the pressure when another couple - Paul and Élisabeth - join them in Rome for a supposedly relaxing holiday. The plot explores the fragility of love when driven by ego and jealousy rather than devotion.