ENJOYING PARIS - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 247

having been abandoned decades before. Now renovated
(although its rather dilapidated look has been deliberately
maintained), it is the base of famous director Peter Brook,
whose experimental productions—often in English—are
consistently sold out.

English-language theatre troupes are sparse but do turn up
from time to time. In addition to the weekly events guides,
check the free English-language tabloids that can be found
in bookshops: Fusac , Paris Voice and Irish Eyes . And note
that Word for Word, an experimental theatre group from San
Francisco, performs each spring at the American Library in
Paris (http://www.americanlibraryinparis.org).

CINEMA
Since the Lumière brothers presented the first 'moving
pictures' in 1895, the French have regarded cinema as an art
form like any other, and it receives much the same attention.
Hundreds of films are shown each week in theatres across the
city, either in French ( version française — vf ) or in the original
language ( version originale — vo ) with French subtitles.
The selection is outstanding: films nouveaux (recently
released films) and exclusivités (films on general release) are
plentiful, film festivals showcasing certain directors or types
of films are popular, and reprises (older films brought back)
are often shown once a week.
New films open on Wednesday. Check the weekly events
which list the week's films by subject and by theatre in each
arrondissement . The listings state the time of the séance
(projection), which usually starts off with advertisements and
trailers, and how many minutes later the film itself starts. Allô
Ciné has a very useful website (http://www.allocine.fr) and also
has recorded information on all films (tel: [phone]).
Arrive early for popular films and be prepared to queue
for tickets and to enter. Doors usually open about 10 minutes
before the séance . Occasionally an ouvreuse (usherette)
will show you to a seat; tipping is not required, but it is
customary to give

1.00. Most theatres now have vending
machines or snack counters in the lobbies; in others, an

€