Belmondo, French film’s handsome devil, dies at 88

French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo, center, wearing the white ‘kepi’ of the French Foreign Legion, meets Legionnaires at the museum of the French Foreign Legion, Aubagne, France, June 29, 2017. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 06 September 2021
Follow

Belmondo, French film’s handsome devil, dies at 88

  • Director Francois Truffaut described Jean-Paul Belmondo as ‘the most complete European actor’ of his generation
  • The charmer was often cast opposite glamorous women, from Catherine Deneuve and Sophia Loren to Claudia Cardinale

PARIS: With his devil-may-care charm, Jean-Paul Belmondo, who has died aged 88, was the poster boy of the New Wave, France’s James Dean and Humphrey Bogart rolled into one irresistible man.
With his boxer’s physique and broken nose, his restless insouciance chimed with the mold-breaking French cinema of the 1960s.
Director Jean-Luc Godard, the New Wave’s brilliant enfant terrible, cast Belmondo in his break-out role as a doomed thug who falls in love with the Jean Seberg’s pixie-like American in Paris in “Breathless” (1961).
The film floored critics and audiences worldwide and, with Francois Truffaut’s “The 400 Blows,” changed the history of cinema.
Time magazine in 1964 declared Belmondo the face of modern France.
“The Tricolor, a snifter of cognac, a flaring hem — these have been demoted to secondary symbols of France,” it said.
“The primary symbol is an image of a young man slouching in a cafe chair... he is Jean-Paul Belmondo — the natural son of the Existentialist conception, standing for everything and nothing at 738 mph.”
Yet Belmondo was far from a sauve intellectual and spent most of his career in he-man roles that played on his raw sex appeal.
Despite making his name as a charming gangster, the actor was brought up in the bourgeois Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, the son of a renowned sculptor, Paul Belmondo.
Born in 1933, he performed poorly at school during the war but was a talented boxer, winning three straight round-one knockouts in a brief amateur career.
He then trained at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art.
His first foray into cinema in 1957 in the forgettable comedy “On Foot, On Horse and On Wheels,” ended up on the cutting-room floor.
But undeterred Belmondo went on to work with some of the most talented directors of his generation, making a trio of films with Godard, and then with Truffaut, Alain Resnais, Louis Malle and Jean-Pierre Melville.
Truffaut described him as “the most complete European actor” of his generation.
The charmer was often cast opposite glamorous women, from Catherine Deneuve and Sophia Loren to Claudia Cardinale in the period romp “Cartouche,” and he constantly reworked his persona in diverse roles.
But from the 1970s he took on more bankable action movies in which he performed his own stunts.
Swashbuckling comic adventure films and farces such as “Swords of Blood” (1962) and the Oscar-nominated “That Man from Rio” (1964) introduced Belmondo to legions of new fans across the globe.
He enjoyed the mix of arthouse and more box office-friendly fare, saying, “It is like life. One day you laugh, the next you cry.”
Belmondo also briefly — and forgettably — ventured across the Atlantic for two English-language films, “Is Paris Burning?” in 1966 and the spoof James Bond “Casino Royale” a year later.
In the 1980s Belmondo experimented with more mature dramatic roles, earning a French Oscar, a Cesar, for Claude Lelouch’s “Itinerary of a Spoiled Child” in 1988 about a foundling raised in a circus.
But he rejected the prize because the artist who sculpted the statuette, Cesar Baldaccini, had once disparaged the works of his father.
Twice married and twice divorced he also lived with the ex-Bond actress Ursula Andress for seven years. Belmondo had four children including the racing driver, Paul Belmondo, with his youngest born in 2003 when he was 70.
His eldest daughter, Patricia, died in a fire in 1994.
He suffered a stroke in 2001 while on holiday in Corsica, which affected his speech, sparking a huge outpouring of love for the actor.
It effectively put an end to Belmondo’s career, though he did make one last touching movie as old man whose only consolation was his dog.
Worse was to follow.
His final relationship with ex-Playboy model Barbara Gandolfi, who was 42 years his junior, ended in scandal in 2012 with her convicted of swindling the actor out of 200,000 euros.
But in 2016 the Venice film festival awarded him a Golden Lion for lifetime’s achievement.
“I never think about my past,” he told reporters there. “Forward, forward, forward.”


Future Generation Art Prize unveils 2024 winner

Updated 31 October 2024
Follow

Future Generation Art Prize unveils 2024 winner

DUBAI: The Future Generation Art Prize, one of the art world’s most prestigious prizes initiated in Ukraine in 2009, has announced its 2024 winners. Among the recipients are multidisciplinary artists who are associated with the Arab world.

The main $100,000 prize was granted to Dhaka-based artist, Ashfika Rahman. Other “Special Prize” winners include Iraqi-Kurdish artist, Tara Abdullah Mohammed Sharif, Palestinian artist Dina Mimi, Pakistani artist Hira Nabi, Indonesian-born artist Ipeh Nur, and Zhang Xu Zhan, who was born in Taiwan.

Special Prize winners will share a $20,000 pot between them to support the development of their projects.

Ashfika Rahman. (Supplied)

The prize’s 21 shortlisted artists are displaying their works at the PinchukArtCenter in Kyiv until Jan. 19, 2025 amid a recovering domestic art scene following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“A lot of artists are still actively present. Obviously, many artists in the beginning of the war have escaped but many also stayed,” artistic director of PinchukArtCenter and jury member, Björn Geldhof, told Arab News. “What is important is that from the very start of the war, artists were looking for ways to engage, and when I say ‘engage’, I don’t only mean through art, but how can they be functional in a situation like this? How can they serve their country?”

Ashfika Rahman. (Supplied)

The prize’s participants this year are exploring a thoughtful range of topics, expressed through immersive installations. According to a press release, what is “recurring through the exhibition is the exploration of local histories and mythologies to overcome historical trauma and the long-lasting effects of wars, as well as the process of liberation from the oppression of colonial influence.”

What sets the Future Generation Art Prize apart from others in the field is its focus on championing up-and-coming artists who are 35 years old or younger from around the world.

The curators of the exhibition. (Supplied)

One of the main issues facing emerging artists is a lack of access to curators, galleries and museum professionals to help boost their careers and encourage their artistic practice, according to Geldhof.  

“We want to really speak to an emerging generation with the strong belief that they kind of imagine the future,” he said. “They are dealing with concerns differently than the middle generation, so to speak. . . They imagine, in a very different way, how the world can look like.”


New York’s Met collaborates with Mideast homeware label Sedar on art-inspired furnishings 

The Artist_s Garden at Saint-Clair by Henri-Edmond Cross_Wallpaper Art The Met x Sedar Global
Updated 30 October 2024
Follow

New York’s Met collaborates with Mideast homeware label Sedar on art-inspired furnishings 

DUBAI: New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Middle Eastern interiors brand Sedar Global are collaborating on a new range of soft furnishings featuring works of art in the former’s collection, with the first launch celebrating nature-themed creations.

Nahel Selo, creative director at Sedar Global Interiors, spoke to Arab News recently about the collection and what he envisions the most popular prints will be — including whether there are plans to feature Arab artists.

The Great Wave by Katsushika Hokusai as wallpaper. (The Met x Sedar Global)

The works of artists including French impressionist Claude Monet, Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai and Austrian painter Gustav Klimt have been translated into fabric form.

They will be used for wallpaper, curtains, upholstery and pillows to “(make) fine art accessible in a way that fits seamlessly into the home,” Selo said.

According to Sedar, the initial release “celebrates nature and new life through elements like land, sea, and air” and Selo explained the decision to launch with this collection.

Roses by Vincent van Gogh in the form of a roller blind. (The Met x Sedar Global)

“Nature has a universal appeal, and we felt that it’s something people can connect with on a deeper level, especially in our region where the landscape is diverse yet often harsh … plus, nature-themed designs are versatile; they complement both contemporary and traditional interiors,” he said.

While the target market includes individual homeowners and interior designers working on larger projects, Selo predicts that the “sea-inspired pieces might steal the show.

Red Poppies Charles Demuth on pillows.(The Met x Sedar Global)

“There’s something about the fluidity and tranquility of the ocean that speaks to people, especially in coastal areas.”

Future seasonal introductions will be thematic in nature, drawing on the 1.5 million works in The Met’s collection, which spans 5,000 years of art from around the globe.

When it comes to Middle Eastern creatives, Selo says the team at Sedar, which translates the artworks into pattern-form and soft furnishings before they are approved by The Met, is “looking into it.

“It would be a beautiful way to celebrate our regional culture. We’re exploring ways to bring in local artistry and add that unique Middle Eastern touch to future capsule collection releases,” he noted.

Grasshopper and Iris by Katsushika Hokusai as wallpaper. (The Met x Sedar Global)

When it comes to his own home, the creative designer is not one to shy away from bold uses of color and print.

“My home is slightly more bold and industrial. So I’d probably go for a (Wassily) Kandinsky on a wallpaper feature behind my sofa.

“Kandinsky’s geometry styles add depth and a statement talking point to a space,” he said, referring to the abstractionist Russian painter who died in 1944.


May Calamawy celebrates her birthday with tribute to Palestine

Updated 30 October 2024
Follow

May Calamawy celebrates her birthday with tribute to Palestine

 DUBAI: Egyptian Palestinian actress May Calamawy celebrated her birthday this week with a tribute to Palestine.

The star took to Instagram to share a picture of her cake, decorated with a doll centerpiece, colorful candles, and gold flakes. She captioned it “unhinged and reaching for the (stars),” adding star emojis, and continued with “Free Palestine” written in Arabic.

Her friends and fans quickly took to the comments section to send their well wishes to the actress. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by May Calamawy (@calamawy)

Calamawy has been actively using her platform to advocate for and support the people of Palestine, sharing images of herself wearing the keffiyeh scarf and posting content that sheds light on the war in the region.

Last month, the actress starred in a campaign for Egyptian Canadian brand Kotn, which creates clothing made from 100% Egyptian cotton. The brand released a Fall/Winter collection titled “El Nady,” which means “the club.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kotn (@kotn)

In a short skit shared on Instagram — paying tribute to co-founder Rami Helali’s childhood memories in Cairo’s iconic sporting clubs — Calamawy and her co-stars, including Canadian comedian Dave Merheje, Egyptian American comedian Kareem Rahma, Palestinian American podcaster Noor Elkhaldi and Yemeni American actress Zainab Johnson, sported jerseys that read “Nabulsi Soap,” styled with pieces from the collection.

For example, Calamawy wore a knit cardigan over the jersey along with a skort, Johnson paired hers with a blazer, Rahma added a cream cardigan and Merheje accessorized with a bandana under a cap.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by May Calamawy (@calamawy)

Calamawy is blazing a trail as one of Hollywood’s rising stars. Her breakthrough role came in 2019 as a series regular on Hulu’s Peabody-winning and Emmy-nominated comedy series “Ramy.”

The actress, who was born in Bahrain, also played the role of Layla El-Faouly in Marvel miniseries “Moon Knight.” Her dual character is the wife of Oscar Isaac’s Marc Spector — an archaeologist who by season’s end had transformed into the superhero Scarlet Scarab.

Calamawy previously told Arab News that acting alongside Isaac and Ethan Hawke was “intimidating, like, really intimidating at first.”

She explained: “Once I got to know them, I would be, like, ‘Guys I’m intimidated,’ and that helped. After a while you don’t care anymore and its fun because I got to have a masterclass with the best.”


What to expect at Hia Hub 2024

Updated 29 October 2024
Follow

What to expect at Hia Hub 2024

DUBAI: Hia Hub, Saudi Arabia’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle conference, returns for its fourth edition in Riyad’s JAX District.

Taking place from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, the event will feature discussions, masterclasses, workshops, interactive exhibitions and live performances.

Tunisian actress Dorra Zarrouk will host a meet-and-greet on Oct. 31, while on Nov. 2 Egyptian actress Yasmine Sabri will talk about her career, challenges within the entertainment industry, and her personal development.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hia Magazine (@hiamag)

Iraqi YouTuber and content creator Noor Naeem, known as Noor Stars, will present a talk titled “Redefining Digital Success” on Oct. 31, where she will discuss achieving success in the digital world. The session will cover her methods for engaging with followers, balancing creativity with practical business strategies, and her experiences collaborating with major global brands.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hia Hub (@hiahubofficial)

Egyptian dancer and actress Fifi Abdou will join a discussion on Nov. 3 titled “Fifi Abdou on Redesigning Arab Entertainment,” where attendees can learn about her career path, contributions to the arts, and her role in Arab entertainment.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hia Hub (@hiahubofficial)

Also on Nov. 3, Saudi influencer Yara Al-Namlah, founder of Saudi skincare brand Treat, will host a session with her mother to discuss the personal experiences and family rituals that have shaped their skincare routines.

Masterclasses will include Lebanese celebrity makeup artist Bassam Fattouh, who will share tips and tricks; Maria Tash, who will offer insights on the art of piercing and fine jewelry design; Oscar de la Renta creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, who will discuss couture craftsmanship; and a skincare masterclass with Inge Theron, founder of FaceGym.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Hia Hub (@hiahubofficial)

International brands such as Benefit, YSL Beauty, Dior, Clinique, The Ordinary, Hublot, Shiseido, Guerlain and more will offer opportunities to connect with professionals and engage in hands-on learning through a series of workshops.


Actress Jameela Jamil to star in new TV series

Updated 29 October 2024
Follow

Actress Jameela Jamil to star in new TV series

DUBAI: Actress, activist and presenter Jameela Jamil took to social media to show off an outfit by Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika in Morocco, days after it was announced she will star in “Hysterical” — a new feminist dramedy from Olivia Lee semi-inspired by controversial figure Andrew Tate.

The strapless, form-fitting gown, in a sleek white fabric, featured vertical cut-outs along both sides from the bust to the hem, with small circular accents framing the openings.

Jamil was in Morocco for the sixth Fashion Trust Arabia Awards, which took place in Marrakech. 

For the event, she wore a black, strapless gown with a slightly plunging sweetheart neckline. The structured, voluminous skirt featured a glossy finish with faint circular patterns, while the bodice was embellished with texture and shine.

Fashion Trust Arabia is a non-profit organization that provides financial support, guidance and mentorship to emerging designers from across the Middle East and North Africa region.

The awards attract industry heavyweights from around the world, with the 2024 ceremony attended by the likes of Emirati singer Balqees Fathi, British model Jourdan Dunn, Egyptian-Dutch model Imaan Hammam, Lebanese-British fashion entrepreneur Karen Wazen, and American-Lebanese supermodel Nour Arida.

Jamil’s new series, “Hysterical,” also stars Naomie Harris and Romesh Ranganathan. Harris plays Leonora, a therapist who spirals into a world of toxic masculinity after her daughter is assaulted.

She learns the boy responsible is a fan of Tommy T, an influencer known for spreading harmful advice among young men. During a weekly “rage release” session with friends, Leonora, fueled by anger and alcohol, convinces the group to act and bring him down.

The plot is inspired by events surrounding Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer with over 10 million followers who once stated that women should “bear responsibility” for sexual assault.

“UMMMM A comedy series about female rage? Sign me up!” Jamil, who is British Pakistani, wrote on Instagram, sharing the news with her 3.8 million followers.

“Hysterical” is being produced by Ranganathan’s company, Ranga Bee Productions. It has not yet been announced when it will be televised.