L'ouverture de la chasse, ses excès.

If you have a chance to see « Close-Up » by Abbas Kiarostami (1990), it's a merveille. It's based on a true story. The funny thing is that I was into Nanni Moretti recently, and saw his short film called " The première of Close-Up " but didn't know it was a real film. After this film, your idea of cinema will be changed forever. Also, it's interesting to see an other point of view about Iran: here, you see a trial. The judge, an imam, proposes the litigant to pardon the guilty man after the discussions, as a legal part of the trial process. This is an attenuating circumstance, that's diminishing the prison term. Incredible!

Our friend Nina made a gift to herself: Flo's Carré Hermès.

Very sad to read about the death of the singer Trish Keenan (42). One of my 2 favorite songs in the world is the Broadcast's song « Echoes answer ».

« La Poésie s'appelle reviens » (« Poetry: thy name is called return »): This is my new documentary film, about French contemporary poetry. It's a 54 minutes long one, produced by Les Films d'un Jour, same producer as the « Prélude au sommeil » .

Avec Jean-Marie Gleize, Noura Wedell, Éric Pesty, Dorothée Volut, Antoine Dufeu, Christophe Manon, Géraldine Chognard, Ivar Ch'Vavar, Yves di Manno, Paul Otchakovsky-Laurens, Stéphane Bérard, Nathalie Quintane, Anne-James Chaton, Rudy Ricciotti, Julien Blaine, Jacques Demarcq, Charles Pennequin, Myriam Marzouki, Jean-Pierre Balpe, Bernard Girard, Michaël Battala, Véronique Pittolo, Christophe Tarkos, Lucien Suel, Jérôme Mauche

If you want to make an exceptional gift, please check Hermès new silk scarf « Bride de Gala en finesse », design by my wife Florence Manlik. Beautiful work based on Hermès classic « Bride de Gala » (1957).

Two marvelous pieces of art for the new year. One is called « Max mon amour », a French film by Nagisa Oshima (1985), in which Charlotte Rampling has a love affair with a chimp. Very Bunuel, which is normal: the script was written by Jean-Claude Carrière. I saw Carrière several times when I lived rue des Martyrs, because his home is an ancient brothel in the same street.

The other one is a book: I eventually found myself able to read Flaubert's « Bouvard & Pécuchet » (1880). My first attempt was about 20 years ago. This is an amazing book, so actual and incredibly funny. Flaubert could see the zapping civilisation from the XIXth century, portraying two very and over-curious gentlemen. My family name, Weinzaepflen (little wine cork), also sounds a little bit like « zap » something; I'm a little bit B&P myself, like everyone is.

« Many authors leave behind unfinished works when they die. Far fewer leave behind unfinished works that can be considered masterpieces. Gustave Flaubert’s last unfinished novel Bouvard and Pecuchet is without question his masterpiece, even in its unfinished state, towering above the more famous, but less enjoyable, Madame Bovary. »

Happy new year for everyone in this tiny « réseau de connivence ».