The Global Studies Seminar – France Themed Semester 2022

5-6:30 PM, The Red Oxx
310 N 13th St., Billings

Join local Pétanque expert Juanita Celix to learn about the long French tradition and charm of playing Pétanque, a traditional game of boules that involves tossing metal balls toward a target. It is quite common to see French playing this game both leisurely and competitively in the parks throughout French cities and towns. After a short information session about the history of the game and explanation of rules, participants will be broken up in teams to test their skills.

This event is kid friendly, and freshly baked pizza will be available for purchase at the event. So bring along the family, some lawn chairs or a blanket for a fun evening out.

7 - 10 PM, Babcock Theater

Les Misérables is a 2019 French drama film directed by Ladj Ly.A cop from the provinces moves to Paris to join the Anti-Crime Brigade, discovering an underworld where the tensions between the different groups mark the rhythm.The film is based on a real-life occurrence of police violence that took place in the city ofMontfermeilon 14 October 2008, and was observed and filmed by Ly. 

The film had its world premiere in May 2019 at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize. It was released in France in November 2019 and received critical acclaim, earning 12 nominations at the César Awards and winning four, including Best Film. Among other honors, it was selected as the French entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, eventually achieving the nomination.

Ted Kim, cinema instructor at MSU Billings, will host a short introduction of the film prior to the viewing. Ted has worked in the television and film business in NYC and Los Angeles for more than 20 years as a director, writer and producer.  He most recently worked as a producer in Los Angeles developing TV network dramas for Tokyo Broadcasting System (“TBS”). He holds an M.F.A. in film directing from Columbia University in NYC.

5-6 pm, MSUB Northcutt Steele - Student Gallery
First Floor - Liberal Arts Building

Enjoy a collection of European paintings acquired by Marguerite and Alberta Bair during their travels to France. An exposition of prints of the original paintings housed at the Bair Family Museum in Martinsdale, MT will be on display in the MSUB’s Northcutt Steele Student Gallery. The exhibit will display work from various artists, including acclaimed French post-impressionist artist, Édouard Leon Cortès (1882-1969). It also will include a recording of Bair Family Museum Director and Chief Curator Elizabeth Guheen’s recounting of the Bair sisters’ story.

The art exhibited includework from Édouard Leon Cortès (French, 1882-1969), Dietz Edzard (German, painted in France, 1893-1963), Suzanne Eisendieck (German, painted in France, 1908-1969), Jean-Marc Nattier (School of) (French, 1685-1766), Michel (French, mid-20th century, exact dates unknown), and George Gerbier (French, mid-20th century, exact dates unknown).

An art reception will take place at 5pm in the Lobby of the Northcutt Steele Gallery on Oct. 6. Light refreshments will be served.

The exhibit will be on display from
Oct. 3 – Oct. 31

4-5 pm, MSUB Liberal Arts Building, Room 205

Do you want to study French in the Loire Valley, a.k.a. the Valley of the Kings? Or are you interested in taking classes in English at one of France’s premier business schools? Find out how you can study abroad in France and what it’s like being an American student in France.

Abby Cook is the Assistant Director of the Office of International Studies at MSU Billings. She manages MSUB's Study Abroad program and is also the lead coordinator for the MSUB Themed Semester Program. Abby's first international experience was studying in Saintes, France during her junior year of high school.

7-10 pm, Babcock Theater
2810 2nd Ave N, Billings

Nelly, an 8-year-old girl, has just lost her beloved grandmother and is helping her parents clean out her mother's childhood home. One day, her mom abruptly leaves, and Nelly meets a girl her age as she's building a tree house in the woods.

The film had its world premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival in March 2021. The film has received widespread critical acclaim.

Ted Kim, cinema instructor at MSU Billings, will host a short introduction of the film prior to the viewing. Ted has worked in the television and film business in NYC and Los Angeles for more than 20 years as a director, writer and producer.  He most recently worked as a producer in Los Angeles developing TV network dramas for Tokyo Broadcasting System (“TBS”). He holds an M.F.A. in film directing from Columbia University in NYC.

4-5 PM, MSUB Liberal Arts Building, Room 205

The "Enlightenment” of eighteenth-century Europe is often reduced to a handful of French philosophies (e.g., Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Diderot), who applied “reason” critically to political and religious institutions of Old Regime France and paved the way for modernity (e.g., freedom, tolerance, democracy).  By focusing on key contextual debates surrounding political and economic reform, sexuality, and racialized slavery, this talk will examine the limits of “enlightenment” and ask if “Age of Reason” is an appropriate label.

Dr. Joseph D. Bryan is an Assistant Professor in the MSUB History Department.  He earned a Ph.D. in early modern French history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2016) and has published articles in French Historical Studies (2022), Punk & Post-Punk (2021), Contributions to the History of Concepts (2020), Journal of the Western Society for French History (2021), and L’Esprit Créateur (2015). 

5-6 pm, Virtual

Join acclaimed local Chef Michael Cotta live to learn how to make the traditional French dish Crème Brulee. Chef Cotta’s demonstration will be aired live, accessible via the below button, so you can cook right along with him. Here is the ingredients list so you can prepare to cook alongside Chef Cott:

Servings: 6

• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 quart of heavy whipping cream
• 6 egg yolks
• 1 vanilla bean

 

To get a stamp in your passport for participa­tion in this event, snap a shot of your French desert and send it to ois@msubillings.edu.

6-8 pm, Cisel Theater
MSUB Cisel Hall

The Rimrock Hot Club and MSUB’s Scott Jeppesen will be performing French Roma Jazz at a special concert. Come enjoy a free evening of a live, energetic French Roma musical performance. The event will be of mixture if discussions, photos, videos and of course, plenty of live music.

• Scott Jeppesen - Clarinet
• Jessica Fiveland - Vocals
• Trevor Krieger - Violin/Accordion
• Alex Nauman - Guitar
• David Banuelos - Guitar
• Mark Bryan - Bass

7-10 pm, The Babcock Theater
2810 2nd Ave N., Billings

It is France, 1789, just before the Revolution. With the help of a surprising young woman, a chef who has been sacked by his master finds the strength to free himself from his position as a servant and opens the first restaurant.

The film, released in Sept. 2021, received two nominations from the French Cesear Awards and one from the International Film Music Credits Award (IFMCA). Otherwise thefilm has received widespread critical acclaim.

Ted Kim, cinema instructor at MSU Billings, will host a short introduction of the film prior to the viewing. Ted has worked in the television and film business in NYC and Los Angeles for more than 20 years as a director, writer and producer.  He most recently worked as a producer in Los Angeles developing TV network dramas for Tokyo Broadcasting System (“TBS”). He holds an M.F.A. in film directing from Columbia University in NYC.

6-7:30 pm, The Post - Billings Depot
2404 Montana Ave, Billings

On the special day of Beaujolais Nouveau, join us to partake in a wine and cheese tour throughout France to learn about and taste wines and complimentary cheeses from different regions. This interactive event will be run by local sommelier and wine enthusiast Abby Reno from City Vineyard.

 

This is a ticketed event and is likely to get sold out quickly. Tickets cost $25 per person. Click the below link to purchase tickets - while supplies last.

 

 

What is Beaujolais Nouveau?  It is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. Under French law, every year on the third Thursday in November, the wine is released at 12:01 a.m., just weeks after the wine's grapes have been harvested. Parties are held throughout the country and further afield to celebrate the first wine of the season.