'LA CONQUETE' (THE CONQUEST) MOVIE ON FRENCH PRESIDENT SARKOZY SHOWN AT CANNES

Carla Bruni Sarkozy and French President Nicholas Sarkozy

The movie, "La Conquete," or The Conquest depicts  French President Nicolas Sarkozy's rise to power and the simultaneous unraveling of personal life. Hyped as a behind-the-scenes glance at the private lives of the Sarkozys,  is arguably the most highly anticipated French movie at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was screened on Wednesday, 18th May 2011. A disclaimer at the beginning of the movie proclaims it is a work of fiction "based on the lives of real people."



Cast of movie 'The Conquest' at the Cannes festival



Actor Denis Podalydes clean shaven wearing a wig in the role of French Presiden Sarkozy

Actor Dennis Podalydes in real life (at Cannes - sporting a beard and minus the wig)

Played by French actor Denis Podalydes, Sarkozy's character is a carefully studied imitation that mirrors the president's manner down to his hairstyle (Podalydes is bald) lilting walk, halting diction and famous sweet tooth. The movie is a vivid re-imagining of French President Nicolas Sarkozy's rise to power and the simultaneous unraveling of personal life. “It’s not a political film, but it’s about politics,” director Xavier  Durringer said. “It’s not a film about Sarkozy himself, but about the conquest of power.”

Cast: Denis Podalydes, Florence Pernel
Directed by: Xavier Durringer
Written by: Patrick Rotman

For the detailed article visit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/world/europe/12sarkozy.html?_r=1
http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/article/Cannes-The-Conquest-shows-Sarkozy-s-rise-1384597.php

CREATIVE AND INSPIRATIONAL ARTWORK AND JEWELLERY FROM NERISSA

At the BLS Spring Bazar, I had met Nerissa Bayani Alford a  lovely young lady, beaming with a positive aura, whose cheerfulness certainly spreads a sense of joy. A creative artist, Nerissa had a table displaying her beautiful artwork in the form of inspirational and motivational sayings using canvas, paper, ink, acrylics, decorative papers, embossing material and mixed media. Nerissa also makes beautiful jewellery and each of them is quite attractive with her creativity and personalised touch.

To view/buy her art work with inspirational quotes or jewellery, visit

Nerissa's blog : www.creativerantsfromnerissa.blogspot.com
email: kate_vee_me@hotmail.com
Mobile: 99702817
webstore: www.etsy.com/shop/kateveeme

Here are some pictures of Nerissa's work I had taken, at BLS Spring Bazar held recently

REMINDER FOR GUCCI ARTISAN EVENT AT GUCCI STORE IN 360 MALL TODAY

Further to my blog on Tuesday night, here is a REMINDER  about the ARTISAN EVENT where Florentine artisans of GUCCI will showcase their artistry and skills live in front of you, today,  in the workshop that has been set up in the Gucci Store in 360 Mall.

There was a press meet at Gucci Stores, 360 Mall on Wednesday morning, 19th May and on Wednesday evening, there was a VIP gathering for the Artisan's event. The Artisan's event is open to the public on Thursday 19th May 10am to 10pm. Do visit the GUCCI store for an very interesting experience whereby you get to view the time-honored traditions . As they assemble some of the most iconic handbags, customers can witness first hand the meticulous attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that is involved in the production of every item in Gucci’s leather goods collection. 

 

The hand-crafted products will be personalized with hand-embossed monogramming and will feature a special inside plaque embossed with the location and date. Clients that make a purchase during this event will receive a personal letter from Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, thanking them for their purchase.   The Artisan Corner display includes custom work tables, a sewing machine, a leather stand, and metal tools, as well as additional background materials which show the products’ evolution from mood board to sketches. An accompanying video display will show Gucci’s artisans at work over the years, also reflecting the fact that these skills are handed down through family generations.

GUCCI handmade bag

Gucci New Bamboo Bag

GUCCI snaffle bit bag

The craftsmen will focus on assembling the New Bamboo, the Snaffle Bit, and the Handmade bag –three of Gucci’s signature handbag designs presented on the runway by Giannini.  The original Bamboo was created in 1947 and was reintroduced in the Spring Summer 2010 collection.  The New Bamboo is comprised of 140 separate pieces which are hand-assembled by an expert artisan in Gucci’s Florentine workshops.  It is crafted in the same manner as the original and requires 13 hours of work to ensure its perfect details.

So do make time to attend, for a unique experience!
Date : Thursday 19th May
Time : 10am to 10pm
Venue : GUCCI stores, Ground Floor, 360 Mall.

A very special thanks to Costanza Assereto, PR, GUCCI for her kindness and wonderful assistance! My very best wishes for Costanza.

REMINDER FOR CARLUCCIO'S BISCUIT DECORATING EVENT FOR CHILDREN

A reminder to enroll your child for 'Biscuit Decorating Event'  a total fun time and memorable experience for children, organized and and to be held at CARLUCCIO's on Friday, 20th May. Call today to book a place for your children and yourself. Here are the details once again. 

Venue: CARLUCCIO'S, First Floor, Avenues Mall
Date : Friday, 20th May

Time : 10 am (You may have to reach early - call them for further details)

Charges: 7 KD for Adult and one child (includes Mum or Dad's choice of breakfast, unlimited tea, coffee or juice and juice for the busy biscuit decorator)
(KD 5 per extra child)

Contact Carluccio's : 22597310 or 97270812.

Sumesh Kunjiraman, Manager : 60906372

There is another very interesting event for adults - 'Pasta Making Demonstration' next week on Saturday 28th May, at CARLUCCIO's  where you will be shown how pasta dough is prepared from scratch by the Chef and also how to make various shapes like gnocchi and ravioli while you enjoy drink of your choice. Guests will get to taste pasta with variety of sauces and you will be given a goody bag with essential ingredients to make delicious pasta at home. Breakfast will be served to participants an hour prior to the demo. I had blogged about it earlier. Do enquire in advance and book your seat.

Date : Saturday 28th May
Time: Breakfast 9am, Pasta Demonstration : 10am
Charges are 15 KD (includes breakfast).

GET IN SHAPE FOR SUMMER

When you exercise during summer time, you are bound to sweat more and lose weight more consistently and faster than in winter. From June to August, a lot of people will be travelling for holidays, as summer time is the preferred month to travel. Feel and look your best before you travel. Surprise your folks back home with a 'renewed' healthier look. Or if you plan to visit a new country, or tour some exotic places,  it means exploring, walking around for long time, visiting important locations and you need to be in good health with lot of stamina, to enjoy your vacation to the  maximum. Or even if you aren't travelling, you still deserve to be in good health. So get in shape for summer. It's nothing difficult...a bit of concious healthy eating and some exercise....and experience the big difference.

IRANIAN CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION 'NEITHER HERE NOR THERE'

On  Wednesday evening, I was able to attend a very interesting Iranian contemporary art exhibition 'Neither Here Nor There' at Dar Al Funoon Gallery. Neither Here Nor There brings together the work of seven Iranian artists, and each of them express various psychological reactions to the environment in which their subjects have suddenly found themselves. It's all about life's unforseen circumstances due to war or unsafe domestic condtions that leads to immigration to foreign lands, followed by  ironies and maladies like culture shock, displacement, alienation, human reaction and adaption.  Experiences in life leave a permanent imprint and artists are endowed with the gift of expressing them in various forms of art! The beautiful exhibits comprise of :

1. Black and white photography - pigmented inkjet print on paper by Nima Alizadeh

2. Oil on Canvas by Adel Younesi

3. Etching on Paper by Afshin Chizari

4. Print and embroidery on fabric  by Rozita Sharafjahan

5. Upside down photography - Peyman Houshmandzadeh

6. Oil on Canvas by Shanita Zakerameli

7. Digital Printing by Hamed Sahihi

The exhibition has been going on since 2nd May. Thursday, 19th May is the last day of the exhibition. Art lovers don't miss this one.

Dar Al Funoon gallery is a beautiful place with the ambience of old Kuwait, as the gallery is located in an olden style traditional Kuwaiti house with beautiful courtyard and you get the feeling of going back into time. A perfect place for holding art exhibitions. There are certain roads blocked around that area due to construction. However, it not at all difficult to reach or locate from Gulf Road (after Kuwait National Assembly building). Do call to find out directions if you haven't been there before.

Venue : Dar Al Funoon, House 28, Behbehani Compound, Kuwait City (see map below)
Date: Today, Thursday 19th May is the last day of the exhibition

Time : 10am to 1 pm and 4pm to 8pm

Tel : 22433138

Here are some pictures from the exhibition

Dar Al Funoon Gallery (House 28), Behbehani Compound, Kuwait City

SWEETNESS OF LIFE

'212 VIP PERFUME' FOR WOMEN BY CAROLINA HERRERA

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Perfume for women, launched in September 2010, is surrounded by slogans such as "Are you on the list?" and "This is a private party", 212 VIP was inspired by New York youth; by their creativity, stylish, modern lifestyle, always ready for fun. 212 VIP is exclusive in its composition, which was developed by the perfumer Alberto Morillas, inspired by the energetic life of New York metropolis, the city that never sleeps.

This glamourous  floral fragrance combines style with attitude for three different events:

Pleasure: Top notes of rum and exotic passion fruit – an explosive cocktail to enjoy any time!

Social: Middle notes of rich musk and gardenia are the basic characteristics of 212 VIP

Fashion: Base notes with unique element of charisma, full of delicious and ultra-feminine, sensuous vanilla and tonka bean, with a little originality and sophistication.

Though it was released in fall last year, the perfume was being promoted, while I was at the Avenues Mall last week. I really liked the fragrance, and it's long lasting effect.

WATER MELONS BURST BY SCORES IN CHINA

Due to lucrative prices and business prospects in growing watermelons, farmers gave overdose of growth chemicals during wet weather which created a scenario as if landmines exploded in the Watermelon farms. Twenty farmers in Danyang city in Jiangsu province in China, got affected and lost up to 115 acres of watermelon. Growth acceleration Forchlorfenuron used for the first time in higher doses caused the watermelons to burst before harvest. The melons that burst were fibrous and badly shaped with white seeds instead of black.   The same chemical is said to be safe when used properly. Forchlofenuron is used in USA to accelerate growth of Kiwi fruit and grapes.  Apparently, the burst fruits are being fed to fish and pigs.

MOVIE 'FROM PRADA TO NADA'

From Prada to Nada is a modern twist on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, a romantic comedy which was released in January 2011, starring Camilla Belle, Alexa Vega, Wilmer Valderrama, with Kuno Becker and Adriana Barraza. It's a story of two sisters, one a law student, and the other, an undergrad party girl, living with their father in a luxurious mansion in Beverly Hills. Fate turns the two sisters from riches to rags and their life is turned upside down.  Watch the movie to see them adjust with difficulty to their new life and how they both discover romance, the true meaning of family and relationship. They learn that the life of PRADA actually means NADA without love, family and community. Does the storyline sound interesting? Well you could rent the DVD and watch over the weekend. I watched it two days ago and it's a fun movie.

Directed by : Angel Gracia