Rain, rain and yet more rain
It’s still raining outside. It has been for several days now. A constant grey drizzle. Even though we have started this sustainability challenge, I must admit I am already starting to miss the clear blue skies and the cheerful sun poking out from behind our tree. The south of France is experiencing a major drought crisis and to be honest, if it rains for a month non-stop I think most locals will be relieved. Sadly, it is the tip of the iceberg in solving the water shortage issues. Today is a definite “stay at home” day, probably cuddled up on the sofa with the dog.
French films
Talking about that, I watched one of my favourite French films yesterday, “La Famille Belier” (Spoiler alert. If you want to watch the film, stop reading the article!) It is a coming-of-age story of a young girl who takes the chance to train in a presigious music school in Paris. It takes us through her struggles of living with a family who are deaf and, although it is a comedy (comedies have a difficult time translating over cultures) I still laugh every time I watch it. It brings back fond memories as it was one of the first films I watched with a good French friend as we tried to traverse French Film culture through our little local cinemas. These are wonderful places deep in the countryside. A moment when the bright lights of city life shine for a couple of hours as we explore the greater world around us, escaping family life for a few hours! We have watched some crackers, but also there will also be those films that are unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Should we or shouldn’t we?
I don’t think I will ever forget one of them. At some point we were watching films but not really reading the reviews, or was that just me? I remember sitting in a town hall as the mobile screen was set up and lemon cordial sat in little white plastic cups in the alcove where we had put our winter coats. There was a draught around our ankles as we sat down on the folding chairs, unaware of what was going to unfold in minutes. It wasn’t the first time I had been in that cinema, but I am afraid it was the last. The film started gently enough. I think it was a love story in some port along the western coast line. The landscape was breathtaking, the cinematography of using light and the barren sand dunes and marshes artistic. Very soon though we got pulled into the claustrophobic story where the characters seemed to be as sparse as the landscape. Transport appeared to be limited to small dingys, the costumes betraying little of whether you were in the past or the present. Even today I think there are these places that just seem to be timeless. And then suddenly it started. I remember my friend and I were so shocked we both glanced at each other trying not to giggle. And then it happened again, and again. I could see some people titter around us, also not sure how to react. Several people even left shaking their heads, usually unheard of as it is such a small space and if anyone even scratches their nose, you are noticed and talked about at the next market day. But still my friend and I stayed in the room. I think we both felt we were committed now to watching the rest of the film, and that whatever happened it couldn’t get worse. And so what was happening? Well we suddenly realised we were watching a film about cannibalism on the coastline of mainland France. A quick scramble for the programme in the dark in a cavernous handbag confirmed our doubts, and the sudden realisation of one plus one. Blood? Yes, everywhere. Horror? No. That was the most disturbing fact of the film. It was all done in such good humour.
Louane
But I digress. La Famille Belier won the “César du meilleur espoir féminin” attributed to Louane Emera, one of our favourite singers “Louane”. As I sat last night watching the film, I couldn’t help but empathise with the parents who were about to lose their child as she was becoming independent and about to fly the nest. The last song was the most poignant. As her parents watch her, for the first time they understand her love for music, but also her choice of song about leaving home touches them to the core, as it did to me. In September my next child will leave the nest, and not only that, we will be too far away to make day or even weekend visits. I think it hit home finally today. Empty-nester syndrome. I know I will still have one child left at home but as I write this with the dog snuggled at my feet, the house is all quiet as the teens sleep in. Gone are the days when they were awake at 6am racing little cars around the courtyard, or building lego towers as high as they can. But now the house is gradually becoming quieter. They’re either out with mates, or organising holidays and work as we watch proudly.
“Je vole”
So how many cats and dogs can fill the empty space around us? Obviously there will never be enough. We are so happy that the children are getting older and having the confidence to go out and do wonderful things. I think perhaps that is what midlife crisis is all about. You realise you are on the brink of finishing a major part of your journey in this world, and unless you have your future path mapped out or are swamped in work, it can be a difficult time. I know there will be tears again this August as we take our boys to their destinations for another year, but I also know our own challenges and adventures are just starting. Listening to “Je Vole”, I feel for the thousands of other families who will be going through the same experiences in the summer. Together, we will get through it, as have so many other families before us.
MidLife Crisis In France
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