Jane Fonda, with Mayor Bertrand Delanoë
and Christophe Girard, Deputy Culture Secretary of Paris
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 • Paris, France
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Last week, the City of Paris kicked off it's "Festival Paris Cinema" (July 3 through 13, 2010) with a star-studded press conference at the Hôtel de Ville -- at which award-winning American film star Jane Fonda received the Vermeil Medal of the City of Paris, as bestowed on her by Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë.
I was lucky enough to secure a seat just a few feet away from where one of my long-standing idols sat to witness the event. Instead of paying much attention to the various speeches by festival officials, I couldn't take my eyes (or my camera) off Ms. Fonda, as was everyone else, so mesmerized by her presence.
Yes, she was lovely, sat tall and comfortable, in spite of the constant flashing of cameras and photographers screaming "Jane!," "Jane, over here!," "Jane, smile for me!" The ceremony was the usual routine, staged in one of the grand ballrooms at the City Hall, with the mayor making opening remarks then asking Jane to come to the stage so that he could present the illustrious award the city doesn't offer to just anyone.
Surprising for me, her acceptance speech was entirely in French...a very good French. She was so "à l'aise" (at ease) speaking in French -- how I envied her. Here's a part of it:
What was most fascinating about the legendary star was that she was so much like any of us, as she was looking around the room, craning her head back to absorb it all, taking in the beautiful paintings and ornate decor, and all the while snapping photos with her little digital camera, not paying much attention to all the eyes that were on her. In fact, she has a blog and on it she has already posted her own photos from that day!
After the conference, she snuck off with her immediate entourage to take a private tour of the building. I spotted them while everyone else was sipping champagne and eating hors d'oeuvres and followed them to snap a few photos of my own.
As it turns out, Jane went immediately on to Saint-Tropez from Paris, to where her daughter, Vanessa Vadim was married this weekend. She blogs about it herself and posts her own photos of the event! See janefonda.com/my-daughter-marries-in-st-tropez/
Unfortunately for the festival, Jane stole the show, as in all the write-ups, as perhaps in this one, it's barely mentioned. Read about it if you like, in English, on the official Web site at: http://www.pariscinema.org
Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris
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