Discover how Paris 2024 became the most media-covered Olympic Games in history See how the Olympic Games’ communications team supported by Wiztrust’s tailored PR platform overcame complex challenges-from synchronizing teams and managing thousands of journalists to ensuring top-level security Learn how innovative digital tools and expert support enabled Paris 2024 to achieve record-breaking visibility and flawless brand protection Download the full Paris 2024 Success Case now and get inspired by the strategies behind this record-breaking achievement For further information and other cases please visit Wiztrust.com protect your company and its directors from disinformation and adopt the “trust mark” of the market leaders plan campaigns targeting your audiences through all channels (e-mail social media) and organise your activities and events improve results by exploiting your data's true depth Discover the best way to manage your PR & Marketing efficiently: Wiztrust is THE integrated communication platform for corporate professionals Prioritise your activities thanks to a clearer view on your assets Manage your communication thanks to a collaborative platform for you and your team Certify your corporate communication thanks to our blockchain-backed technology Save your team and yourself some precious time Learn more about Wiztrust in our case study knows how an early relationship can determine a life Philippe Besson’s 2017 autobiographical novel Arrête avec tes mensonges (“Stop With Your Lies”) sold more than 165,000 copies in France and was soon translated into 15 languages most notably by the actor and translator Molly Ringwald as Lie With Me The novel fitted easily into the genre of gay romance and was invariably compared to the works of André Aciman Besson’s story was even dubbed “the French Brokeback Mountain” by Elle magazine dull town of Barbezieux-Saint-Hilaire in the Charente In his autobiographical novel Besson recalls the formative affair of his life when he fell in love with another boy at his school called Thomas It was a passionate relationship – which was never admitted to in public – but it ended abruptly and inexplicably as soon as school was over written in the first person as a memoir and dedicated to the memory of Thomas Andrieu (1966-2016) is as openly factual as anything by Karl Ove Knausgård When he is giving an interview in Bordeaux in 2007 the unnamed narrator spots a boy who looks astonishingly like his lost love of 23 years earlier is indeed Thomas’s son and the narrator learns a little more about what has happened to the love of his life In 2016 Lucas travels to Paris to see the narrator again bearing a letter of farewell that his father wrote to him in the summer of 1984 Owing to a combination of shame about his sexuality and provincial entrapment but now the truth can be owned – both by his son and his lover of so long ago the director and scriptwriter Olivier Peyon has made a brilliant recension of this complex narrative who told him “the greatest betrayals make the best adaptations” The action takes place in one location over a weekend counterpointed by extended flashbacks to the past Stéphane Belcourt (Guillaume de Tonquédec) a gay writer who is celebrated for his love stories travels back to his home town for the first time in 35 years He is there to fulfil a tawdry commission to write a text and make a speech on behalf of an international cognac brand which is owned by the cognac brand Hennessy [See also: A strategic analysis of Barbie] and thickly wrapped in coats and scarves (in the novel Besson touchingly says there are men who collapse around their thirties and he’s one of them) But what he remembers is the physical glory of his teenage love (Jérémy Gillet plays the young Stéphane And he finds it reincarnated in Thomas’s son Lucas who happens to be an international executive for the cognac company (played by the lean who has something of the allure of his grandfather Lucas is initially deceitful to Stéphane about how much he knows about him and his father Yet their understanding of each other develops quickly There is a tearfully moving public reconciliation of their private conflicts when Stéphane turns his speech supposedly in tribute to the brandy (he doesn’t drink) into truthful testimony “You always write to someone – you write to someone to make them present again,” he says “Lie With Me” is in cinemas from 18 August [See also: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: a feeble last crack of the whip] This article appears in the 16 Aug 2023 issue of the New Statesman, Russia’s War on the Future This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Fast food giant McDonald’s is primed to claim the naming rights to one of France’s leading sporting competitions, according to a number of sources including Le Parisien The American chain is leading the race to take over naming rights for Ligue 1 – the top division of France’s football pyramid – in the coming days and will reportedly pay around €20 million per year for the privilege The final announcement will be made on March 21 It comes as McDonald’s was crowned France’s largest restaurant chain last year However, news of the fast food chain’s success comes in juxtaposition to a study conducted at Montpellier university that states almost half of all adults in France are either overweight or obese Read more: Obesity in France must be made national priority, say health groups The average spend in a McDonald’s in France is between €12 and €13 per head – higher than almost any other country in the world Almost all of its restaurants in France are run as franchises although some of these franchises operate several hundred restaurants McDonald’s was forced to adapt its strategy in France after a partially-built restaurant in Aveyron was torn down by a group of farmers in 1999 TV pictures of the event were shown all over the world and analysts said it symbolised a rejection of American fast food in France Local restaurant managers told their bosses in the US after these attacks that the only way the McDonald’s could survive in France was if it adapted to the country – and they were given permission to do so Proper tables for sit-down meals were installed including baguette sandwiches and separate salads The chain also changed its corporate colours in France from the garish red and yellow of the US company to a toned down green and yellow A big effort was also made to get French farmers on board The company claims 75% of all food it sells comes from here and that 30,000 French farmers work directly with it with more than 80% on CDI full-time contracts Read more: Popeyes, Wendy's, McDo: why fastfood restaurants are booming in France McDonald’s remains shorthand in France for malbouffe (junk food) and the opening of restaurants in smaller towns does not always go down well where permission to open a McDonald’s in Barbezieux Saint-Hilaire was compared unfavourably by locals to a council decision to shut down the town’s swimming pool due to increased electricity costs another fast food chain with roots in the US having withdrawn from the market here in 1997 convinced that hamburgers would never take off McDonald’s revamped its signature Big Mac burger in France in February while the sesame seeds on top are distributed to give a more ‘homemade’ appearance The onions are now cooked directly on the burgers and cheese is taken out of the fridge earlier so it melts better its global CEO Chris Kempczinski identified France as the country where there was “most pressure in the market” despite its success McDonald’s France to offer fast electric car charge points McDonald’s France defends charging €1.75 for ‘filtered’ tap water Further delays are expected as several major airlines affected Recent power cut in Spain and Portugal is warning to holidaymakers to ensure they are prepared for worst-case scenario The resort is set to remain open to the public and not only to professionals Team Bath BUCS Super Rugby players Jack Kenningham and Will Partington are celebrating today after being called up to England Students to play their French counterparts later this month The home fixture is on Sunday April 14 at Chester RFC with the reverse away fixture billed for April 19 at the Stade Gilbert Santiago in Barbezieux-St Hilaire plays at full-back but has also featured on the wing with Bath Rugby Academy and is strong on the counter-attack He recently scored two tries in their ten-try defeat of Durham in the BUCS Super Rugby quarter-finals Kenningham, meanwhile, plays at number six for Team Bath. The Harlequins academy player, who is studying Sports Performance at the University of Bath has made a significant impact as a first-year student His work rate in attack and defence has brought him many plaudits Coach Aaron James said:  “We are all pleased that Will and Jack have been recognised for their consistent performances this year It is Will’s second year representing England Students and he knows the tough task at hand versus the French Jack leads on and off the field and has gained high respect from his team-mates and the opposition.” Partington said: “It’s an exciting time getting the chance to put an England kit on based on my performances across the season I was selected as a first year last season so I’m looking forward to adding my experience this time around with a new group of lads.” Kenningham added: “I am absolutely delighted to have been selected for England Students I am really looking forward to the whole experience and it helps make up for the disappointment of losing the semi-final last week against Hartpury.” Christian Taylor (Manchester Met University) George Wacokecoke (Northumbria University)