Then the two film festivals coming up in Nyon are worth taking a look at. The first is the Festival du Film Vert (Green Film festival) and the second is an film festival on Archaeology . Both festivals include some films in English, or have subtitles in English. The Green film festival is on Saturday 28th February at the Salle Communale in Nyon with five films showing in the afternoon through to the evening. The first at 13:00 Flow is in English. This is an award winning documentary investigation into the World Water Crisis. See this film's website for more details. The second film at 15:15 is Planete Blanche The third at 17:00 is Our Children will accuse us Set in a community in France it features a mayor who has decided to make the school canteen organic. The 4th at 19:30 is called Blé (Wheat) And the final film at 21:00 is called The World according to Monsanto Although it is in French, it includes some interviews in English. More details on the festival's website Ticket prices CHF 10 for adults and CHF 5 for children and AVS and students or an abonnement for the whole day 20 CHF adults CHF 10 AVS and students. The festival is touring eleven Swiss venues from the 28th Feb to 7th March so if you don't catch it in Nyon, you can see it elsewhere. The Archaeology film festival runs from next Tuesday March 3rd until Saturday the 7th March at the Usine a Gaz and has a full programme over the five days and entrance is free. This bi-annual festival is now in its 10th year and is a good opportunity to learn more about the world of archaeology. Films are entered into a competition and a prize giving ceremony rounds off the festival on the Saturday night. The festival has a full programme of films, these below are in English or with English subtitles. On Wednesday 4th at 14:00 Le Seigneur de Sipan is about excavation in South America. On Thursday 5th at 16:00 there is Le Secret de la déesse aux serpents and at 22:05 Les Fouilles de la Discord is about excavation in Palestine.

Author event in English followed by an aperitif in the presence of the author. Photo above - courtesy Jan Michalksi foundation © Mirabella Balaciut The British novelist and writer Jonathan Coe will be in conversation with Lisbeth Koutchoumoff, journalist of Le Temps, at the Jan Michalski Foundation in Montricher (above Morges) on Saturday, 18th October at 16.00  This event coincides with the publication of his latest novel, "Expo 58". Expo 58 is a comic spy and international love story.  A perfect evocation of a moment in the history of the Cold War, the novel looks at Europe  as a place of shifting and clashing political interests. The event will be held at the Fondation Jan Michalski in Montricher, at the foot of the Vaudois Jura.  The building that houses the foundation (in banner heading above - is famed for its interesting design.  More info about concept and aim of the building here  Entrance to the event is CHF 10  - Reservations required     reservation-coe@fondation-janmichalski.ch Here's a quote from Expo 58 “He waited in silence for the blindfold to be tied firmly at the back of his head. ‘Right,’ said Wilkins, emphatically. ‘That should do. How many fingers am I holding up?’ ‘Three,’ said Thomas. ‘God damn it to hell, how did you know that? Can you see through the cloth?’ ‘No. It was a guess.’ ‘Well you’re not supposed to guess. For crying out loud, I’m trying to make sure that you can’t see where we’re going. We’re not here to play guessing games. How many fingers am I holding up?’ ‘I’ve no idea. I can’t see a bloody thing.’ ‘Good. It was four, by the way. Not that it matters. Now shut up.” —       ‘

Patrick Chappatte, cartoonist in a scene from his own film "La Mort est Dans le Champ" Photo and images above and below: Courtesy Visions du Réel.  Nyon's film festival is now in its final day and tonight the winners of films that were entered into the different categories of competition, will be announced at the closing ceremony. There were hundreds of films on offer for festival goers, and reviewers Trish Thalman and Kathy Morf have done their bit to see quite a few of them. They have enjoyed many of the films but here is a summary of some of their favourites, plus a few from the Living in Nyon editor. It will be interesting to see if the jury's winning choice of films will be the same as those of the Living in Nyon writers.  All will be revealed tomorrow! Trish Thalman  Five Winning Films – My Choices This year, Visions du Réel provided a jam-packed, fanciful table laden with the most delicious ‘desserts’.  There was something for everyone, and far too many tasty choices to be able to get through in the six days. Of the fourteen films I had the happy opportunity to view, there are five that stand out for me. ‘Ivan and Ivana’ – a more than credible, colourful history of an immigrant couple to the US who believed in the ‘American Dream’. The story covers a period of 10 years in their lives: from blue-sky, golden beach, Porsche owning California Dreamin’ to the reality of how life gradually changes and becomes something other than ‘fast money’ in America. ‘Hula and Natan’ – a joyful, riotous story of two brothers, with very grimy, oily hands, who often sleep in the junked-out cars that appear to ‘grow’ in the dusty, full of weeds and rusted piles of metal field that is their ‘auto repair shop’ close to the Gaza – Israel border.  These men are more concerned with daily living, and selling used car batteries than with the incoming Hamas rockets that put them and their beloved, well cared for animals in harms way. ‘Edmund U Knezevac’ – a short film that gleefully tells the story of a transplanted, free spirited Swiss lawyer who left all things that annoyed him about and organised Switzerland, and moved his family to ‘another time’ in rural Serbia.  Unable to loose his Swiss sense of organisation, he has implemented an efficient program that greatly improved the standards of payment and collections for farmers and how they use their water supplies. The hilarious shots of Edmund trying to tame his headstrong horse are some of the finest moments of the film festival for me. The audience was howling with laughter, as was the intention.  Lighten Up! ‘The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975’ – a stunning and historical collection of Swedish media reports covering Black Power in the US, particularly in the San Francisco Bay area. Many of the film clips were never seen in the US, due to Government censorship during those tense times, just after the Civil Rights Bill was signed in 1963 and the turmoil of the US involvement in the Vietnam war.  I lived in San Francisco during those days, an altruistic, young adult, and was vividly reminded of the conflicts and unnecessary violence that went hand-in-hand with the Black Power movement and Anti-Vietnam protests that had more opportunity to thrive in liberal, activist San Francisco Bay Area than any other part of the US at that time. Eine Ruhige Jacke’ – A Still Jacket – this exquisitely beautiful, powerful film about a young man, entrapped in a furious life of autism, is the one that has touched me beyond a sense of my soul.  A young man who cannot speak, but understands every word said to him, is lovingly, and in the most practical sense, guided from the depth of his chaotic life and lack of communication with others, to successfully gain the ability to competently use a chainsaw  to cut logs in the Jura mountains. Perhaps it is a metaphor for sawing through the communication barriers of autism. I was overwhelmed with emotion by the sensitivity and profound depth of respect the filmmaker had for the young man and his autism. Kathy’s says on her film selection    The list of movies this year made it difficult for me to choose which ones to see. I’ve seen thirteen films since last Thursday and enjoyed most of them. It’s been a great time of discovery. There were so many different subjects, styles and origins. And with so many talented film directors it was a tough choice.  However my favourite three are  Phnom Penh Lullaby by Pawel Kloc, Poland,   Milk and Iron by Claudia Priscilla Goifman, Brazil,   Born under Z by Frédérique Pollet Rouyer, France/Belgium.  You can read Kathy's reviews of these fims on previous posts here on the site. As for the Living in Nyon editor's choice.   To be honest I don't think I have had as much luck in choosing films as Kathy and Trish. Quite a few of the films that I saw started off with great potential, but then let themselves down by the editing. Either they were too long and needed to be cut considerably or the construction of the film meant that it was difficult for the viewer to grasp what the subject matter was about. Having said that, the films that have left their mark for me are the following: "Rechokim"  by Adi Barash and Ruthie Shatz.   For the past fourteen years  Ibrahim and his family  worked as an informer for Israeli intelligence. Due to his dangerous situation as a traitor in the Palestinian authorities he was granted asylum with his family in a run down area of Tel Aviv. The film chronicles his life, and the difficulties he encounters, not only with the Israeli authorities but also with his family.  Although the film inevitably touches on the political situation in the area, the film is also about family, about parents trying to keep theirs together, about the angst of teenage children, about the simple joy of blowing out candles on a birthday cake, about surviving  under difficult circumstances and about the relationship between a husband and wife.   The official programme calls this film "A fascinating and tactful social analysis" . I agree.  "Max Kennedy and the American Dream" by Vikram Zutshi  is a strong film and another story about finding the American dream (as in "Ivan and Ivana" ) but from the pespepctive of Max an American living on the U.S/Mexican border and from the Mexicans trying to cross it illegally.   However the first film "Kampf der Köniningen" -  "The fight of the Cows" shown on the opening night ( see review here)  still remains one of my overall full length film favourites. There are also five short films for me that stood out amongst the rest.  The first two were in the "First Steps” category for young film makers.  “Pêle-Mêle” by Maelle Grand Bossi and ” A Father’s Prayer” by Andre Hörmann . Pêle Mêle is a second hand book store in Brussels and the film of the same name gives us a delightful portrayals of its patrons, one of them a loyal regular customer for over forty years, “I bought my first school books from here”. We first see him rooting around for books in the shop and then haggling over the price with the assistants. Then again later, back in his own elegant but crammed apartment, every single surface covered with books, barely an inch to move. Then there is the young man who scours the streets of Brussels for rubbish bags containing books and magazines. He sifts through them to take them to the store to sell on for a few euros. I want to visit this book store myself, not only to purchase books, but just to see these characters. A charming and well executed film. “A Father’s Prayer” by Andre Hörmann, is my second choice of the strong “First Steps” films although in the feedback, one of the tutors said he felt the subject matter was rather clichéd. A father training his teenage son to become a boxer to keep him on the straight and narrow, in a crime ridden area of the Chicago, maybe a familiar story, but it didn’t matter. From the opening deep rich timbre of the father’s voice; “As a coach I want to bring the mean side out of him, as a father I want to see him smile”, this intro led into a powerful and superbly moving portrait of a one parent family. This film is a wonderful mastery of sound and images. The father himself poetic in his statements; “What happens when one lobster climbs to the top of the pan? There are always other lobsters waiting to pull him down” referring to the crack houses and dens on their street tempting his son on every corner. The applause for this film was long and well deserved. Three other films worth a mention are " Twinset "by Amy Rose (review below), " La Mort est Dans le Champ" and "Monsieur M" by Laurent Cibien and Isabelle Berteletti. On this latter film, the documentary film makers discover a diary from 1968 in the cellar of a house in France after the has owner died. They chronicle the revolutionary years in France through this diary of a worker and map maker at the National Geographic Institute (he is also a confirmed bachelor living with his parents). A charming, at times funny, and fascinating film.  "La Mort est Dans le Champ" by Patrick Chappatte and Marco Dellamula is a  film made by the famous cartoonist Chappate (his cartoons are in the newspaers the International Herald Tribune and Le Temps). In the film he portrays the situation in the Lebanon where hundred of thousands of explosive devices are still left on the land for farmers to risk encountering them in their fields and for children find them in bushes and trees. The illustrator tells of this horrendous situation in this animated documentary. "Twinset"   by Amy Rose is set in the very English world of Women’s Guilds, of tea served in green melanine cups, of retired ladies with permed white hair, Wesleyan notice boards, and of rain.  The film features Jennifer, a transsexual living in a small seaside town in Essex and chronicles just a small part of her life, from the tetchy conversations with her mother about her transexuality (“body parts on their own don’t make the gender”) to whether she should be using the mens, ladies or disabled toilets when out in public. Despite the deepish and evidently masculine voice, Jennifer is ladylike in her actions. When she walks, skirts float and skim her slim hips. As she tries on different hats to complement an outfit, or listens politely to the amount of money raised at a charity guild event (£2.59), she has the mannerisms of a female. She is a good looking woman albeit with brighter clothes and more make up than the rest of the ladies. In the age of sketch shows featuring caricatures of such women, this film could easily have tipped the wrong way and turned Jennifer into a figure to be mocked. Fortunately the director manages to avoid this and cast a respectful eye on the character.

Photo above: The crowd watching Portishead. Each year Living in Nyon, features reviews from other writers who give their impression of Paléo. Last year Jonas Parson, the "barefoot writer", reviewed each evening's concerts. This year its the turn of a 20 year old Swiss/British student at the University of Geneva (studying for a degree in International Relations). He says he likes "all kind of music from The Gorillaz to Gonjasufi  " and has been coming to the festival for many years, not only for the music, but for the atmosphere, to see friends and to have fun". His review is below. Note:  The Living in Nyon editor gave an audio report to  World Radio Switzerland on her take of last night's festival, including a review of Angus and Julia Stone, Portishead and the great concert of Los de Abajo, (see photos of this band in previous post). Plus, there are a few tips on how to avoid some of the long food queues, you can listen to the report here . Second Night of Paléo 2011 After quite a wet first day to Paléo this time my friends and I were a bit luckier with the weather as it didn’t actually rain much for most of the day, a few rays of sun could even be caught around with patches of bright blue sky that lifted everyone’s spirits even higher. Photo of festival goers in sunflower field Thank god for those wellies though, as the mud was worse than the previous day, offering some in our crowd a few laughs watching others slip around! Bonobo (a.k.a  Simon Green from Brighton in the UK) , started early under the Chapiteau tent and soon got everybody in a warm "feel good mood",  perfect to start the evening, with quality jazz and electro influenced hip-hop and a beautiful singer. The crowd filled the tent but it wasn't too dense and the sound engineers did a great job, which made the concert a very nice listening experience. See Jeremy's  video which he has uploaded  to U tube here. " The Colline" as people here commonly call "the hill" overlooking the food stands near the Ruche (it says "Les Galets Bleus" on the map which refering to the big new blue waterbags you can sit on) wasn’t as full as it usually is, probably because of the expected weather, so finding a nice spot to sit and have a few drinks with friends was easy.  Getting food down by the Ruche though took quite a long time as the area was absolutely packed when we arrived. We just had enough time to get a hot “sandwich du Berger” before getting in front of the Grande Scène for Portishead. "Chillingly beautiful voice of singer Beth Gibbons" Portishead started its concert a little disconnected from the crowd, as they were playing on the biggest stage reserved for the top acts.  But as I heard someone put it (exaggerating ever so slightly of course), that programming Portishead under the Chapiteau (a smaller tent), would have been like programming the Rolling Stones in the Club Tent (even smaller tent!) . However after a few songs were played, the crowd started cheering with more intensity and at the chillingly beautiful voice of the singer Beth Gibbons mixed with an instrumental performance mastered over 20 years of the band’s existence. When timeless “Glory Box” was played, everyone in one very big crowd seemed to agree that they were hearing some amazing music, and you could feel it. Free Hugs Hurrying over to the Chapiteau to try and catch the rest of the concert of  American band Beirut did cast a little doubt on to whether the concert scheduling was very appropriate, and so did hurrying back to the Grande Scène to see the Chemical Brothers, but the job of programming mustn’t be easy! And passing a massive guy with a sign giving out free hugs probably made everyone feel much better. Beirut seemed to have created quite an atmosphere under the Chapiteau where you could feel warmth both in bodies and hearts. Arriving in the middle of the concert after seeing Portishead did kind of keep you from enjoying it as much as people who’d been there since the beginning. But the band sure did create a mix of quality folk goodness. Back to the Grand Scène for a great concert from English electro legends The Chemical Brothers, whose light show and set up were as exciting as the music. The crowd at the front was fun and cheerful, and everything was in place for a good concert. Earplugs made the experience a lot better though, letting you hear the actual music behind the overwhelming bass and preventing your ears from bleeding! All in all it was a great night, especially for music and the lack of rain, and tonight PJ Harvey and The Strokes are sure to bring the crowd a great time, and I definitely recommend Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson for reggae enthusiasts.

To the sound of African drums and a little bit of last minute hammering on various stands, the Paléo conference revealed yesterday that all was ready for another great festival. Daniel Rossellat the president of the festival, showed the press round the various installations, the first being the OBOX. This is a giant water fountain, surrounded by pools and footbridges and with stepping stones to jump across the water. The structure, designed by the students of Hes-SO (University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland) will be a great place to cool off if these high temperatures continue. At night time, the installation will be lit up and luminous with various light projections, a place definitely to check out! Below- Mr Daniel Rossellat and a student demonstrate their agility on the stepping stones Hes-SO are involved in many other projects at Paléo including the designing of the Paléo poster, the video clips on the giants screens, the play park in the Mielmelo area for children (see last year's post about this area), a project called Have Fun in a responsible way this is an awareness campaign in the car park for festival goers to appoint a designated driver, an ice machine where you can order an ice lolly from the chemistry students prepared by a robot! As the spotlight on the music this year in the Village du Monde is on South Africa,the area is made up of "giant necklaces" in the form of huts and African stalls selling wares reflecting the sounds, flavours and colours of the region. Each year the festival has a social partner and this year it is the Neuchatel based IMBEWU Suisse. This charity works for the integration of youth through sport. Below - Finishing touches to the Village du Monde

Flowers, sculptures and wine festival in Morges, The Sound of Music in English at the theatre, Classical music at the Conservatoire. Living in Nyon talk/future films in Nyon, parking in Nyon, late local shopping hours and thankyou to a reader in Neuchatel. Finally, if Shakespeare were alive today would he be on Facebook? (see sidebar) An eclectic mix of events and news for you below. Tulip festival in Morges - Morges High Street with flags out The Tulip festival in Morges has now begun and will continue until May 16th. Over 200,000 tulips have been planted in the Parc de l'Indépendance near the edge of the lake and when they finally come into bloom there will be a spectacular display of flowers, (blooming is a little late this year due to the cold Autumn). However there are also daffodils, hyacinth and crocusses too and they should be coming into flower very soon (if they are not already). This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the festival and there are many special events organised over the following weekends. This year there will also be 15 sculptures in the park in an exhibition organised by the International Symposium of Sculpture.Tulip festival brief round up below, see  the site for full details Park keepers preparing for the festival This weekend 10 to 11 April  Weekend for families Bouncy castles, Clown puppets, Captive flights in hot air balloon, climbing wall, bicycle race, 17 and 18 April   Swiss Weekend Orchestra, Accordions, carriage rides, raclettes, 23, 24 and 25th April  Turkish weekend and International children's festival Processions, result of contest of giant tulips, folk dancing, shadow theatre, workshops for children Turkish food. 1st and 2nd May  Dutch Day Bike rides guided tour on bicycle, Circus Klomp, Songs from Holland 8th and  9th May  80 potters in the Tulips Ceramic artists on site in the park, pottery demonstrations and pots for sale. Brass band music etc 15th and 16th May  Medieval animations Reconstruction of craftsmen from the 15th Century. Stringed instrument maker Boat parade 16 May Note, each year in a different town along the lake there is a Naval parade of all the "Belle Epoque" boats from the CGN company. This year it is the turn of Morges and on Sunday 16th May from 13:30 to 15:00 there will be a naval choreography which will be visible from the quays at 14:15. It's quite spectacular and worth a visit. Wine fair Also in Morges on the 14-19 April it's the  Arvinis wine fair which is open to the public, lots of stands and tasting of local wines, this year the "guest of honour" wine at the fair is Californian wine. Sound of Music The hills or rather the Theatre du Léman in Geneva will come alive with the sound of music in a couple of weeks with the GAOS production in English of The Sound of Music on 23, 24 and 25 April. If this show is one of your favourite things, then check it out on the GAOS website Classical  Music Concert Bach and Handel will be played by Georges Kiss at a clavecin Sunday afternoon recital at the  Conservatioire of Nyon on Sunday 18th April at 17:00 Living in Nyon - Documentary Film talk Thankyou to all who came to the last Living in Nyon event on Tuesday night. Mr Jean Perret and Madame Gabriela Bussmann (Director and Deputy Director) of Nyon's upcoming documentary film festival Visions du Réel gave a very interesting talk about the festival to a full house of Living in Nyon readers. They explained all about the festival, the logistics of choosing films amongst the 2,000 submitted. Mr Perret talked about the diversity of the films the aim of the festival and what is on the agenda for this year. Madame Bussmann talked about the market and pitching of films, she explained that this festival is rated highly in the documentary film world  and how film makers come from all over the world to Nyon. The event was held in  a new venue down by the lake, a perfect setting for a glass of wine and a chat and an interesting discussion.  Watch this space for another Living in Nyon event! A short round of some news items taken and translated from La Côte newspaper Park prettily please From next Monday drivers who park their car in the Place Perdtemps car park will have to park in the designated parking areas. Those who have been sneaking their car into other parking places such as on the grass will find these areas blocked off, and if they discover a sign at the entrance saying "Car park full" it will mean just that and drivers will have to  look elsewhere and not try to park illegally. Those who do, will be fined. Late shopping hours Discussions are under way at the moment between Nyon council and the commercial organisations to come to an agreement to enable the shops in central Nyon to open until 19:00 from Monday to Friday and until 18:00 on Saturday. Nothing is decided yet but when it is, this site will keep you posted! There are also seperate ongoing discussions as whether to install CCTV cameras around the town. New art installations by the castle until the 10th October There are some new shapes on the ground near the chateau, one is called "Formations" by Adriana Stadler and the sculpture hanging near the castle is called "Collier de la Comtesse" (the countesse's necklace) by Roland Heini. Thankyou very much to the reader who is moving to (or has moved to?) Neuchatel and contacted me with a very nice email after a visit to Nyon. Many apologies as I seem to have lost your email (amongst the many I receive) I was going to reply but your email seems to have disappeared into cyber space. So if you would like to send an email again then that would be great and I can reply!

If you are looking for a cosy, friendly, after-work bar in Nyon then you don’t need to look much further than the  Le St-Jean  bar. Over the past four  years, this bar (situated just at the bottom of the Place Perdtemps car park, in Rue St-Jean 22) has begun to attract a loyal following, not only with Swiss customers but with expatriates of different nationalities and in particular, an English speaking clientele. Photo above - Christian, the bartender at the St-Jean bar Since manager Philippe Kuratle took over the bar and hotel in September  2011,  he has modernised the bar and has also introduced several themed nights. On Thursday nights between 18:30 and 21:30 there is live music with the group "Mark and Friends”. The group play a selection of British and American hits from the 60's to the 90's . A selection of Brazilian  tapas are served at the bar on this night. On Fridays between 18:00 and 21:00 there is a free open buffet laid on for customers - a great TGIF idea! Not your average G+T The St-Jean also serves mean cocktails which are priced at just CHF 14, whilst a Gin and Tonic is 12 CHF. But don’t expect your standard G+T here - there are over 20 types of gin in the bar and each drink is carefully prepared by bartender Christian  with fresh herbs and spices. There will even be a gin specialist coming to the bar on the 27th November for a gin tasting evening. If you are after an authentic Brazilian Capirihna, this is also the place to come. Although manager Philippe grew up in Switzerland his Brazilian roots means that he knows what makes a great Capirihina and he ensures the bar stocks authentic good quality Cachaça to make the perfect drink  There is even a specialised ice-making machine for the drinks to add the final touch. For those that simply prefer a glass of wine or a whisky rather than a cocktail, the bar also stocks a small but carefully selected choice of good quality wines and whiskies from around the world.  When Living in Nyon visited, a regular customer ( to both the bar and adjoining hotel) explained “I could go for a drink anywhere in the region, but I choose to come here. It’s friendly, the service is superb and its like coming home”. Note: it can get busy on a Thursday and Friday so if you are going with a group it might be best to call in and reserve a seating area at the bar. Call 022 361 5509 Special deal for Living in Nyon readers! Book a table via this email address: st-jean@hoteldelange.ch  and you will get a little selection of Brazilian tapas free of chargeat the St-Jean bar. Offer valid for one visit only on either a Tuesday, a Wednesday or a Thursday in November 2015 and must be reserved by email. Please write "Living in Nyon" offer in the email.

As the weather has now turned on the chilly side, how about warming up and heading off to the World's First Fondue Festival which will take place in the village of Tartegnin (near Rolle) on Saturday the 21st November? This is a one of a kind event that will eventually yield the world's first fondue champion! The competition will allow participants to show off their culinary skills. Alongside the main competition, visitors can enjoy local entertainment and take part in workshops honouring local flavours and traditions.   Full details here Ice Rink Open in Nyon The outdoor ice rink in Nyon has now opened! Full details and opening times here

This Saturday it's the fourth annual "lake cleaning day "when volunteers and divers spend the day retrieving various objects and artefacts from the water, from various points all along the lake including over in France. Check out the gallery of photos from previous years to see what the volunteers found!

Another busy weekend in the Nyon region with events happening for all ages in 4 different local castles! (Nyon, Prangins, Chillon and Coppet). From garden parties to raclette à gogo, Shakespearean plays and Roman days. Roman Day in Nyon Nyon will be celebrating its Roman heritage on Saturday 11th June as the Roman Museum of Nyon has organised a day of Roman activities and a chance to step back into Roman times. Between 10:00 and 20:00 there will be fighting gladiators, actors, story telling and patrolling legionaries! You will be able to discover different aspects of Roman crafts, taste Roman food, play like the Romans and follow a discovery trail of the remains of Noviodunum. It all takes place both at the Esplannade des Marroniers (where the Roman columns are situated) and at the Roman museum.  See full programme here "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare will be performed in English in the open air in the courtyard of the Château of Prangins on Friday 10th and Saturday the 11th of June as part of the ADG Europe castle tour.  There will also be a performance in  the Château of Chillon on the 9th June. Tickets here Raclette evening On Friday 10th of June, over at the Château of Nyon, there will be "Raclette à Gogo" (as much raclette as you can eat!) including a board of charcuterie, fruit salad, coffee for just CHF 35 Doors open at 17:00.  Reservations recommended emailinfo@caveaudenyon.ch Jazz in the old town Later on, also on Friday 10th in the old town of Nyon there will be jazz at the 1306 Club  from 20:30 onwards. Free entry, hat passed round for the artists. Garden Party On Sunday 12th June there will an English style Garden Party at the Château of Coppet from 14:00 to 18:00. Live music, arts and crafts, strawberries and cream refreshment and Pimms. Tombola, Best Hat competition, silent auction. This event is organised by the Make a Wish Switzerland foundation.

The film festival Visions Du Réel opened last night in Nyon with an official ceremony and the showing of an inspirational heart warming film "El Sistema" about a musical educational programme operating in the poor barrios around Venezuela. A great choice of film to kick off the next six days. Films will now be showing from early mornings in venues across Nyon until the evening of next Wednesday 29th, (more information on going to this festival in the previous post below). Here are reviews of two films "Hasta La Victoria" and "Extravio which you can see today and Sunday.Friday 11:15 Cinema Capitole 1 Leone repeated on Sunday at 22:30 Cinema Capitole 2 "Hasta la Victoria" "There is so much money here, so much money" says Odette a Cuban looking out of a train window on a train between Lausanne and Rolle. Although she likes it here in Switzerland, at this point in the film she is frustrated. Frustrated because she is waiting for her husband Silvio to join her from Cuba. He is still there and waiting for the correct papers to be processed so he can come here while she studies dentistry at the University of Geneva. The film begins in Havana where we see the life of this couple who are desperate to start a new life elsewhere. They don't dispute some of the good things Cuba has, but they find the control over their lives stifling. "It's like constantly having your parents tell you what to do". So they make plans to leave and the film maker records their progress from Odette leaving Havana (there are some set backs along the way) to her eventually arriving at Cointrin airport in Geneva. The director Chris Guidotti is there to record her first impressions of her surroundings. When she sees a safety traffic sign with a mirror on it she says to the camera "Look! no-one steals the mirror!", "Listen to how quiet it is here". The film then continues with her observations and her thoughts, waiting for Silvio throughout the year and the seasons. I won't reveal what ultimately happens to this charming, interesting couple, him in Cuba, she in Switzerland, you can go and see for yourself. This film is in the category RN (Regards Neufs -First film of a young director) so I guess, technical mistakes are too be forgiven but the sound quality could be better and perhaps thare are too many lingering close ups on the main individuals, however it is a revealing portrait and gives a fascinating insight into how visitors from outside Switzerland view this country and an even more fascinating glimpse into life for Odette and Silvio in in Havana. "Extravio" Interestingly, a comment that Odette makes in in this film is similar to another made by another Cuban woman in the film "Extravio" "Everyone is always rushing around, no one seems to have time for each other, there is no lingering in the streets to have a conversation". This time the filmmaker is Cuban and has recently arrived in Salford in the North of England. She is trying to find a familiar face, a person she can relate to and in doing so films other black residents from choir singers to residents of Mosside. Once again Visions du Réel has come up with some clever scheduling as seeing these films back to back is an excellent chance to compare and contrast lives of two Cuban's abroad.

Photo above and below from  "A Home Far Away" - courtesy Visions du Réel The second review on this site of a film to be shown at Visions du Réel 2012, has been written by Trish Thalman. Trish is originally from California and lives in Gland and has been reviewing films for this site for the previous two years. Read her personal footnote to the film at the end of this review and see a trailer of the film.  "A Home Far Away"  directed by Peter Entell.  Screening Sunday 16:30 at the Salle Communale, and Monday at 12:15 at the Capitole 1 Cinema.  Note: Tickets can now be bought in advance for each screening via the  Visions du Réel website   or at the central box office in Rue des Marchandises near the Salle Communale. The opening scene of this compelling, historical and bittersweet film shows a large bulldozer on a cold winter day in Switzerland, taking a bite out of the roof of the former home of Edgar Snow, his wife Lois Wheeler Snow and their family, now empty and without purpose. It is a strong visual metaphor for the unfolding story. We will see the house razed to the ground during the documentary. Life changes things. The film gives us the first person, face-to-face account from Lois Wheeler Snow, still a strong minded and proud, articulate woman at age 90. We learn of the exciting, happy life she shared with Edgar from their early courtship in the 40’s, when she was a Broadway and Hollywood actress, and Edgar was a world acclaimed journalist, right up until last year when the film was made. Edgar’s seminal work, ‘Red Star over China’ in 1937, introduced Mao Zedong and the Chinese Cultural Revolution to the world, and made him famous and controversial at the same time. Eventually they would marry and have two children. Lois would continue acting, and then move into TV in the 50’s. She would find herself ‘blacklisted’, unable to get work, because of the McCarthy Era and the House Un-American Activities Investigations related to people, particularly writers and actors, who were identified as having Communist ‘sympathies’. The Snows left the US and moved to the Lake Geneva Region in ’59. Their intention was to be in Europe for one year and then return to the US. The Swiss welcomed the family and acknowledged Edgar’s prestige in China and around the world. Lois admits that she had a nice life in Switzerland, and did not miss the theatre, “until later”. She felt lost and isolated, as nobody in Switzerland knew her or of her theatrical career. She looses her US theatre contacts. She wants her old life back. The Snow family never return to America. They remain ‘transplanted’ in Switzerland. Lois goes to China for the first time with Edgar in 1970. His previous visit to China was in 1960. She is pleasantly surprised at what she sees in China, and warms to the very special welcome they receive from Mao. But, Edgar feels puzzled and deceived; the Revolution is not making changes he expected to see. Truth is vague. It is Edgar’s last visit to China. He is ill and will die 2 years later. We are given insight to the scrapbook of Lois’ life with Edgar, along with her belief and support of the Cultural Revolution, and then life without Edgar. After the ’89 Tiananmen Square Massacre, Lois goes to Beijing, stands-up to and opposes the Chinese saying “you are wrong”. There are wonderful, warm personal film-clips, photos, and memorabilia along with Lois’ wistful comments to the camera about life in the US, Switzerland and China, and the impact of Edgar’s China association in their lives. She has to make decisions about what to throw away in the house, and from her life, before the demolition gang arrive. She will be moving on. Her life story continues, but without items from her previous life. The memories remain. As the house comes down, there is sadness, yet acceptance of her life now, and what once was: beliefs and ideals, hopes and dreams. Everything changes. There is loss. Lois comments to the live camera “the past becomes the past”. She has changed. China has changed. Trish's personal footnote to the film "The closing shot of Lois in new flat shows the framed poster that appears behind her in old family film footage. I had that poster too.  It got wrecked. It says: " War is not healthy for children and other living things".   We (my generation) all had that poster and 'quoted' it quite often".   See U tube trailer of film here