Brave Heart by Mel Gibson

 

 

This film was realised by Mel Gibson which is an Australian actor and film director. It’s talking about the fight between the English and the Scottish during the XIII^th century through the character of William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson).

Historical context:

In 1286, Alexander III, king of Scotland, died without any son so the crown makes the powerful Scottish nobles fight among themselves. That’s why the king of <st1:country-region>England</st1:country-region>, Edward I^st, which was the most cruel English king ever tried to take control of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. To manage to do this, he corrupted the nobles offering them more power and lands in <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>. But soon he’s stopped by rebels directed by William Wallace. In the beginning, they won several battles like Stirling and took control of <st1:city><st1:place>York</st1:place></st1:city>. But the corrupt nobles betrayed him during the battle of <st1:place>Falkirk</st1:place> in 1298 where he’s captured. He was beheaded in <st1:city><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:city> the same year. Edward I^st died in 1307 leaving his throne to his weak son, Edward II.

 Synopsis:

William Wallace is a Scottish common boy when he is first confronted to the cruelty of Edward I^st: he went into a farm where all the nobles were supposed to meet the king to make a truce of peace but they’ve been hung. After this, young William has to face the loss of his father and brother who tried to fight. So it’s his uncle who takes care of him and made his education.

At the same time, <st1:country-region>England</st1:country-region> celebrates the arranged union of the king’s son and the daughter of his worst enemy, the king of <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Edward I^st wants to control <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and he creates a law named Prima Nocta which allowed English soldiers to share the bed the Scott bright on her first night.

A few years later, William who’s now a man comes back to his village and secretly married the woman he was always in love with, Murron. But she is killed by the English soldiers because she refused the right of Prima Nocta.

Desperate and furious, William creates an army composed of Scott patriots which quickly grew more and more important. They avenge Murron and they decide to protect <st1:place><st1:country-region>Scotland</st1:country-region></st1:place> from the English power.

At the beginning, the nobles who are fighting for the <st1:country-region>Scotland</st1:country-region> crown support William and his army especially Robert the Bruce, one of the most powerful nobles of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region>, admires Wallace’s courage. They manage to beat the English army several times and to take control of the town of <st1:city><st1:place>York</st1:place></st1:city>. But soon they betray him because they’ve been corrupt by <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

Finally, William is defeated at the battle of <st1:place>Falkirk</st1:place> even with the help of the Irish and the informations of the daughter-in-law of the King of England who fall in love with him. He is captured a bit later. He is tortured in <st1:place><st1:city>London</st1:city></st1:place> before being beheaded cut into pieces. At the same time Edward I^st died from sickness, leaving the throne to his weak son who is already controlled by his wife.

This death made him a hero of <st1:country-region>Scotland</st1:country-region> and Robert the Bruce who feels guilty about the death of this wonderful man, decides to continue the fight against <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>.

 

My opinion: I think this is one of the best films I ever saw (I watched it two times in less than 2 weeks). Mel Gibson completely respected the real history and it makes it even better. The cast is absolutely great and there is even a French actress, Sophie Marceau!!! This is a very strong story and I can’t help crying every time I watch it. So I only have one advice: go get this film as fast as you can and watch it!!!!!

 

 

M.G

2nde13

je ne sais pas s'ils verront ça un jour mais bravo aux (sauf erreur) 36 euros qui ont eu leur bac et leur mention euro !!

During the last holidays, I went to London and so, I would like to introduce you an area that I particularly enjoyed: Camden Town.

It's located, as you can see on the London map, at the North-West of the City-Center. To get there, catching the tube (or the bus) is a better option than taking your car because parking spaces are few and far between. So, if you choose the subway, you have to take the Northern Line and stop at Camden Town or Chalk Farm. A walk along the pretty way beside the canal from Regent's Park will also take you into the middle of the markets.

Camden's group of markets is now the fourth most-visited tourist attraction in London. It's the largest street market in the United Kingdom, and attracts around 100 000 visitors each weekend. There are six main markets composing Camden Market: Camden Lock Market, Camden Stables Market, Camden Canal Market, Camden (Buck Street) Market, Camden Market Hall and Inverness Street Market.

In a few words, I'm going to introduce you the different markets.

The first, Lock Market, is located beside the Regent's Canal. It's the first market that appears in Camden. It was originally a craft market but this area now sells a wider range of goods. Actually, you can browse the vast number of stalls and shops which sell unusual and original gifts and choose from a large selection of handcrafted traditional and contemporary jewellery, designer clothes and accessories. Finally, if you need a meal or light refreshment, it's there I advice you to go because there are plenty of pleasant places at the Lock to enjoy fine food and drink, especially at the weekend.

If you head along Chalk Fram Road you will come to the Stables which is the biggest market, and was built on the former cowsheds of the company of railroads of Midlands. From the latest in adventurous alternative fashion, through the best selection of vintage clothing shops in London, to the joy of collecting bottles. It's a great and varied place to shop. In total around 500 shops and stalls trade here at the weekend and many are now open every day of the week. A large part of the market is currently being extended with additional floors added to increase the shopping area.

Then, there are Camden Canal Market which, unfortunately,  due to a serious fire on the evening of February 9th 2008, is closed until further notice.

After this, there is Camden Buck Street Market. This busy jumble of around 200 stalls in narrow alley-ways was originally known as Buck Street Market and is one of several separate markets off the Camden High Street/Chalk Farm Road.. A few stallholders sell their own designs of jewellery and clothing and are particularly worth seeking out.

In the Market Hall, there are just a few of more than 100 traders selling their goods over the three floors .

Finally, there is Inverness Street, that has been the location of a small but popular fruit and vegetable market supplying the Camden Town community since around 1900. In recent years stalls selling bargain clothing, footwear and souvenirs have changed its style but a few quality fresh produce stalls still survive. This street is well-known for its excellent continental style bar/restaurants which stay open late and a number of specialist shops.

To conclued, I really appreciate this London area because I found it very pituresque, surprising and impressive !

This market is gigantic and full of all kinds of clothes, of jewels, of more original objects some than the others. By spending a little of time there, you can find everything you look for, whether it's a poster, a vinyl or one some piece of furniture. Furthermore, the prices are very accessible. Besides, what is very surprising to Camden, it's this mix of very different styles. From the exit of the subway you can already perceive punks with crests, clothes with holes, piercings, tattoos, rebel locks, dressed in fluorescent, or on the contrary Gothics, dressed all in black or also hippies with flowers in their hair and a cigarette in their mouth.. Besides having the impression to be outside time, we have the impression to be able to make the world tour in some streets and some stores. Actually, thanks to the numerous stands of food situated in the market hall of Camden Lock, you can eat, according to your desires, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mexican or also Moroccan.

I hope that my article will have given you envy to visit Camden and I leave you on some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Camden

 

                                                                                  Regent's Canal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  An example of an original stall

 

Estelle André, 1ère S 10

     My utopia is a vacuum, without humans, animals, vegetals, or air. all is white. No possibility of life.

     But I think Mrs G.would like a world a little more elaborated, so I will have an other utopia.

     My utopia is a sort of good pseudo-middle age. It is not on Earth, because Earth is too close to us, but on a planet who look like it. This world is inhabited by a race looking like humans, but more intelligent and mature, so there are no wars, no thefts, no rapes, no murders.*Their values are the respect, of other people and of nature

     The world is full of woods, montains, lakes, and plains, and there is no city, because the inhabitants live in little communities. There aren't machines, people have renounced to it. They product just enough  for eat, but there are very clever, because they have a long life ( about 4000 years ).They have no religion, because they are intelligent.

     Their politic sytem is an absolute republic : the leader is elected all the 5 years, but has all the power. He doesn't abuse of this power, because he isn't human. There is no abstention at the elections, even if people haven't to go.

     There is no human. It's a perfect world

 

*Read Erekosë's Quest, and Corum's Books, by Michael Moorcock. This race is a mix of Vadaghs and Xenans.

 

By RP, 2nde 5

Enjoy ! (if the player doesn't work : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyhYjjYXyfE)

 

 

 Ingredients (25 cookies) : 

- 8 ouces of flour
- 7 ounces of black chocolate broken
- 4 ounces of butter 
- 8 ounces of sugar
- 1 big egg
- 1 little glass of rhum 
- 1 bag of chemical leaven 
- 1 pinch of salt

Made by Clement Hardy and Laurent de Maroussem 2°4