August 3, 2011

Here’s a well-kept secret about this town of Beaune: on nights when the weather is clear, several short films are projected on the facades of specific buildings and other architecture around town. The projectors are housed in these unassuming silver things that resemble ATMs.

The images are kept precisely within the outline of the building or wall, as you can see in the picture here, which is displayed on the front of a medieval tutor-styled building.

Each one is different. This one seems to be an introduction to Beaune, but others detail the changing seasons or the history of the cathedral here. Very cool. Everyone stops and watches for a moment then moves on. Just a little joi de vivre courtesy of the town.

We went to see a showing of three silent films last night. They were housed in an old barn (timbers shown here) and the movies were accompanied by solo pianist.

Unlike the overpriced restaurant we stumbled into off the main square in Beaune (full of Americans), this event was attended mostly by French people. And how French it was: Silent movies of Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and Harry Lloyd. Who else is trying to preserve that little slice of film history?

The kids loved the movies, by the way. Laughed right along and didn’t miss a beat. Tiny snippet here. Excuse the shaky cam and the brevity and the sideways view; the phone was bright, and I didn’t want to tick off the French!