The Artist, film review

Why did silent movies go out of fashion? It is the question lead character, George Valentin argues, and a conundrum I pondered while watching the Michel Hazanavicius film ‘The Artist’.

‘The Artist’, like many others before it, is a movie about a movie. It’s set in the 1920s in Hollywood: George Valentin is a silent movie actor, an idol. Outside, after the premiere of his latest film, he meets, by chance, Peppy Miller, a star-stuck fan and aspiring actress. There is an obvious attraction immediately between the two. They meet again on set when Peppy is an extra in his next film and dance briefly, a passionate friendship begins. Soon ‘talkie’ films take off, and while George is left behind, Peppy gets her big break, a star of the new genre of talking films. Their roles are dramatically reversed as is their unconventional friendship.

On screen there is undeniable chemistry between the two leading actors Jean Dujardin (George Valentin) and Berenice Bejo (Peppy Miller) dancing youthfully and sharing a love for cinema. I adored the retro feel of the film, stunning costumes and styling, and Chaplin-esque wit. The lack of language barrier allows this film to appeal to anyone and everyone.

I went to see ‘The Artist’ at the Westfield cinema, which is, admittedly not the most charming of venues! If you have the choice I would recommend visiting the Electric in Portobello or the Ritzy in Brixton to see the film while sipping a glass of wine. The Artist is beautiful, classic and romantic, subtle and simple. It is visually spectacular, a vintage picture that is heart-warming and utterly enjoyable.

Showing at cinemas everywhere.

Mon Plaisir Restaurant, Covent Garden

Mon Plaisir is apparently the oldest French restaurant in London, and from its quaint, authentic interior I can believe it. Located on Monmouth Road, a cobbled street in Covent Garden, you could almost be in Paris.

It is a treasure trove of trinkets inside; through a little archway, we were seated in the main area of the restaurant, red checked tablecloths cover the tables and pretty little pictures decorate the walls.

Both the daily lunch menu and the a la carte were on offer, and we chose to mix and match. I chose the very seasonal Veloute de Potiron et Huile de Noisettes (Pumpkin Veloute with Hazelnut oil) to start: it was absolutely delicious, creamy and velvety, sweet and filling and served in a lovely little tureen. My dad chose the Salade de Canard sauvage aux Mangues (wild duck and mango salad) which was served with a little too much raw onion for our taste, running the risk of distracting from the smoky duck aroma and flavours.

For mains my Perdreau roti en croute (roast partridge in a pastry crust) was a typically French dish, and though it had lovely flavour and was beautifully prepared, I found it too heavy for a lunchtime meal, perhaps a poor choice on my part. The bird was served with a confit of cabbage and a very delicious rich and creamy Celeriac gratin. The Limande grillee sauce béarnaise ou poelee avec un beurre meuniere et pommes ratte (Lemon Sole served grilled with potatoes) was gratefully received and polished off by my dad, who admitted it was one of his very favourite childhood dishes. The large impressive fish lay regally on the plate, wonderfully cooked, even with his high standards, he seemed very satisfied with the Mon Plaisir version of this famous, familiar dish.

For desserts it was the tarte du jour that won our vote, a caramelised apple slice made with soft fruit and custard and encased in crumbly pastry, just as it should be. The chocolate mousse was nice too, not too rich and very airy though it wasn’t special enough and perhaps needed an extra dollop of cream. We finished the meal with wonderfully strong coffees.

I felt almost surprised to walk out into Covent Garden, London after our lovely long lunch in Mon Plaisir. The place, food and character is all so reminiscent of France, a country that I am so fond of, it is like a second home to me. But if nothing else it was a lovely déjà vu... and luckily with a trip to Paris just round the corner I don’t have long to wait for the real thing.

Visit the Mon Plaisir website to book here.

Le Cirque Invisible, Southbank Centre

This summer the enchanting duo Jean-Baptiste Thierree and Victoria Chaplin returned to Southbank Centre with their wildly unique show, ‘Le Cirque Invisible’. The pair have been dazzling audiences with their creations for over 30 years and perform with a passion and enthusiasm that is quite breathtaking. Skipping through the dreariest London rain with my little sister, the brightly lit Queen Elizabeth Hall was a welcome refuge.

The production is advertised as a family show and I felt the balance had been perfected to appeal to all ages without patronising or boring any age group. Husband and wife, Jean-Baptiste and Victoria present a bizarre and amusing circus show that with very little narrative or dialogue and so must succeed purely on their talents and communication with the audience. On the whole the show works, though there were moments when the joke was so primitive and eccentric that my sister and I exchanged confused glances.

Everything is presented in a beautifully poetic way... Jean-Baptiste is the wacky joker, magician and actor, while Victoria Chaplin (incidentally Charlie Chaplin’s daughter) is an elusive dancer, acrobat and musician using simple props to remarkably transform herself into animals and dressing entirely in pots, pans and glasses playing a mesmerising tune. It is a tour de force, with these two performers frantically performing the whole show alone, except for a few rabbits and birds who arrive on stage for their camio roles, including a hilarious gaggle of geese singing in unison along with the music.

The costumes and visuals were sensational, with endless magnificent costumes and stunning lighting design. I was impressed with the extent of their imagination, with the simplest ideas amusing some audience members so much they seemed unable to stop laughing. My sister and I certainly left giggling.

Le Cirque Invisible is a whimsical spectacle that I believe will charm any audience.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at The Geilgud Theatre

Based on the 1964 Jacques Demy classic film, ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ in a new stage version is currently showing at the Gielgud Theatre, presented by Kneehigh Company. Emma Rice’s adaptation is close to the original with the addition of a few extra characters. Essentially it is a doomed love story, but the narrative is weak, lacking any oomph or depth. A garage mechanic, Guy falls in love with young Genevieve, who works begrudgingly in her mother’s umbrella shop. They are inseparable, but when Guy is sent to fight in Algeria for two years, Genevieve must decide whether to wait for his return or to accept the marriage proposal from a rich local merchant.

I felt sorry for cabaret artist Meow Meow as the maitresse, she had the difficult role of pre-show warm up but even after an impressive climb through the stalls failed to get the audience going. After this cringeworthy introduction was over, she improved immensely, and later performed a stunningly dark rendition of "Sans Toi," so alluring that it became my evening's highlight.

Michael Legrand’s romantic score works triumphantly well, and the large live band drive the show. ‘I Will Wait For You’ stands out as a particularly weepie central song, an emotional lilting melody that returns again and again throughout the drama. It is a shame that much of the singing cannot match the calibre of the music, sounding rather feeble, especially when harmonising is required. Lez Brotherston’s set is fantastic, with numerous imaginative touches, and thankfully where the plot lacks interest the delightful stage design compensates.

Carly Bawden is lovely as pretty Genevieve, innocent but confident with a shining smile, Andrew Durand’s portrayal Guy looks a little pathetic beside his strident lover. I enjoyed watching Joanna Riding as the smart Madame Emery, (mother of Genevieve) and thought her both convincing and amusing. A chorus of matelots prance about in cliché striped outfits assisting the main players by physically moving them around, it is a strange concept but one that adds fluidity to the action and reveals some nicely choreographed steps.

The theatre was pitifully empty when I visited with several angry viewers leaving at half time protesting that: "this show has no story". The American couple next to me giggled rudely throughout and when leaving I overheard several groups disappointedly comment that they hadn't realised the show is a musical, completely sung from beginning to end. So sadly, it seems that this sentimental French tale is lost on us Londoners, perhaps Meow Meow was right when she joked at the start that we were a typically English audience, keeping our feelings hidden away under our bowler hats.

Continues until 1 October 2011, book here.

Robuchon Restaurant in London

Joel Robuchon: chef extraordinaire, and world renowned restaurateur.

In 1989 Robuchon was named "Chef of the Century" by the guide Gault Millau and with top quality restaurants all over the world he is delighting customers on every continent. For my birthday lunch I visited his London restaurant to taste the genius creations myself. It was recommended to me by my expert foodie grandparents, so I had high expectations.

Robuchon sits deliciously next to the Ivy in Covent Garden; dark and smart, it is a discreet venue. Walking inside it feels like a members club - relaxed and welcoming. There are two options for seating: L’Atelier (bar-like stools surrounding the open plan kitchen, for more casual dining) or La Cuisine on the first floor where the seating arrangement is more traditional and formal. Intrigued by the Atelier idea I opted for a table there, after being assured that the menus in both areas are the same. It was definitely the right choice: intimate seats surround the kitchen, it was lots of fun seeing how everything was assembled.

There are several menus to choose from, of which the Menu du Jour is the best value. Available from 12:00 – 15:00 and 17:30 – 18:30, and at just £22 for two courses or £27 for three courses, this offer is too good to be true. Each course has three options; starter and main each have a fish, meat, and vegetarian dish. Here’s what we chose:

STARTER:

Sweet corn soup with popcorn

Classic beef tartare topped with fried quail’s egg

MAIN:

Roasted Gloucestershire old spot pork served with thin French fries

Grilled Scottish salmon with fennel and lemongrass sauce

DESSERT:

Almond biscuit with blood orange jelly, milk chocolate ice cream

Selection of traditional tarts

Instead of wine we ordered two mixed juices (or virgin cocktails) from the drinks menu. These were fresh and carefully concocted with fresh fruits, priced at £6 each. I had a sweet lychee and blackberry that was refreshing and delicious. A decorative red bread basket was brought to us with a generous selection of loaves, though I did have to ask for butter. My steaming soup arrived promptly, a beautiful buttercup yellow colour, with a meticulously stacked garnish of popcorn and apple strips. Quite possibly the best soup I have ever tasted, jointly with my auntie’s butternut squash recipe. The flavours and textures of the components were expertly matched - an impressive first course. I didn’t hear much from my satisfied companion so I’m assuming he enjoyed his beef too.

My main was exquisitely presented, a juicy strip of pork on a delicate long plate, with the crispiest, yummiest tiny little french fries; they were more like couture crisps. The salmon looked amazing placed on a bed of leeks with a mysterious surrounding moat of fennel and lemongrass foam. Our waiter wasn’t quite as attentive as I would have liked but was friendly and informative about the food.

Our desserts were very typically French, and reminded me of lazy afternoons in cute cafes in the South of France. Out of the two, I preferred the selection of tarts - petite slices of six different cakes (coffee, lemon, chocolate etc), it looked lovely and had great variety, though none were as good as my grandmothers incredible apple tart. My dessert was good, but not quite as scrumptious as I was hoping it would be. A nice mix of flavours, the almond and orange cake was moist and light, but I didn’t much like the chocolate ice cream that accompanied, it was bland and uninteresting.

For our coffees we were taken upstairs to the comfy bar area. It was nice to see this lounge space, though I didn’t find it nearly as lively and exciting as the Atelier downstairs. Sadly no petit fours or complimentary sweets were brought with our after lunch drinks which I found massively disappointing, as I adore culinary surprises!

Overall though this was a very special meal for my special day. Robuchon has received two Michelin stars for this restaurant and I doubt there is a more reasonable set menu around for such luxurious food. A perfect option for an affordable but memorable Valentines meal. I will definitely be returning very soon.