Culture

‘Gladiator 2’: Ridley Scott Returns to Rome, 25 Years Later

Nearly 25 years after introducing Russell Crowe to the arena, Ridley Scott presents a brutal and bloody follow-up to one of his greatest successes, Gladiator 2, a blockbuster featuring Denzel Washington and a new generation of stars, in theaters this Wednesday. The story takes place 15 years after the first film, which won five Oscars, including ...

Court Ruling Lifts India’s Decades-Old Ban on Rushdie’s Novel

A historic ruling by the Delhi High Court has officially lifted India’s longstanding ban on The Satanic Verses, the novel by British-American author Salman Rushdie. The decision, rooted in a legal technicality, effectively nullifies the import restriction imposed in 1988 due to the lack of any tangible record of the original ban order. The ban ...

Nuhad Es-Said Pavilion for Culture: A Beacon in Lebanon’s Dark Night

In these dark times, when Lebanon’s heritage is brought to its knees, when the ancient jewels of our culture teeter under bombardment, our hearts ache for Baalbeck, Tyre, and many other mythical places already wounded, whose future hangs by a thread. When the iconic Palmyra Hotel in Baalbeck, witness to so many eras, lies injured by bombs, a ...

Le Monnot Theater Presents 'Abl Ma Fell', a Play Exploring Humanity

Le Monnot theater responds to the call to revive the performing arts despite the challenges. In these uncertain times, the play Abl Ma Fell embodies an act of theatrical resilience. By reopening its doors, Through this production, the play’s team demonstrates that theater remains a vital space for expression and connection, even in times of ...

Asterix Speaks in Grondspraatsi to Save a Rare Dialect

One of Asterix's classic comic adventures has been translated into a rare Swedish dialect spoken by just a few thousand people in Western Finland, marking a unique effort to preserve the language. Asterix and the Great Crossing, originally published in 1975, is now available in grondspraatsi—a local Swedish dialect spoken primarily in the ...

Notre-Dame: Contemporary Stained Glass and a New Reliquary for the Relics

Nearly four years after the devastating fire that ravaged Notre-Dame de Paris on April 15, 2019, the restoration project is in full swing. Two significant events mark this pivotal week: the hearing of the finalist artists for the design of the new contemporary stained glass and the presentation of the new reliquary intended to hold the Holy Crown ...

Urdu Bazaar in Delhi Faces Decline Amid Cultural Shifts

In the heart of Old Delhi, bookseller Mohammed Mahfooz Alam sits in his quiet shop, one of the last few stores selling Urdu literature, a language cherished by poets for centuries. Urdu, spoken by millions, carries a rich history reflecting India's complex cultural blend. However, it has steadily declined under the dominance of Hindi, facing ...

Le Monnot Theater Pays Tribute to French Poet Jacques Prévert

Jacques Prévert’s work continues to inspire literature enthusiasts, lovers of rhyme, and wordplay. Embracing this spirit, Josyane Boulos, Zalfa Chelhot, and Cyril Jabre will bring the poet's words to life, embodying them on stage to captivate the audience of Le Monnot theater. This swift artistic initiative, organized shortly after a meeting ...

‘La Cocina’: American Dream, Love, and Dilemmas on Screen

Immigration, abortion, and the pursuit of the American Dream: these are the explosive ingredients of the Mexican-American film La Cocina, which takes us behind the scenes of a New York restaurant. This social fresco explores themes at the heart of the tense electoral campaign ending next week in the United States, where the film will be released, ...

The Cure Releases First Album in 16 Years, 'Songs of a Lost World'

Legendary British band The Cure, fronted by charismatic Robert Smith, is back this Friday with Songs of a Lost World, their first album in 16 years, and it’s already earning rave reviews. This 14th studio album continues the legacy they built in the 1980s and 1990s with timeless hits like Boys Don’t Cry, Close to Me, and Friday I’m in Love. ...

Archaeological Heritage: Open Letter from the Baalbeck International Festival

We urgently appeal to the heads of diplomatic missions, international organizations, heritage specialists, and all influential stakeholders to intervene and halt the relentless assaults on the city of Baalbeck and its archaeological complex, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. Recent aggressions near the Acropolis have inflicted ...