Author: Ernest

France has also had its share of producing quality films worthy of Hollywood’s attention for decades. Here are the Top Five Films from France on the streaming sites Netflix and Prime which appeals not only to fans but also to those who use films as a way to learn the French language.

Amelie

Released: 2001

Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Starring: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Serge Merlin, Jamel Debbouze, Domonique Pinon

This is probably one of the most popular French exports in the film world. A light-hearted fantasy movie, It is about the title character, Amelie who secretly creates a world of her own design by orchestrating the lives of people around her. The film earned great reviews; some say you will easily fall in love with Amelie. It grossed at over $33 million worldwide and has won many awards such as the Best Film at the European Film Awards and four Cesar (the French counterpart of the Oscars) Awards. It also placed Tautou on Hollywood’s A-List as she has received many offers in subsequent films.

Bicycling with Moliere

Released: 2014

Director: Philippe Le Guay

Starring: Fabrice Luchini, Lambert Wilson, Maya Sansa, Camille Japy

This dramatic film is about two friends working on a production of Moliere’s Le Misanthrope. Their differences would emerge as they argued on who should play which part and ended up revisiting past issues between them. The film is ideal for those who want a shortcut to understanding the famous play by Moliere without the need to watch the actual play itself though it is deconstructed as each the actors go through every part, adding tension brought about by the rivalry.

Blue Is the Warmest Color

Released: 2013

Director: Abdellatif Kechiche

Starring: Lea Seydoux, Adel Exarchopolous, Alma Jodorowsky

This coming of age film is based on the graphic novel by Julie Maroh. It is about two women Adele (Exarchopolous) and Emma (Seydoux) who are lesbians and have a relationship. But it is more than just women getting together intimately. Through this relationship, Adele gets to unlock her untapped potential and become someone better than she was before. The film received a lot of praises heaped on the director and the two lead actresses. It has received among its many accolades the Golden Palm Award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It also received nominations from the Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA, a testament to its superb quality.

Suite Francaise

Released: 2015

Director: Saul Dibb

Starring: Michelle Williams, Margot Robbie, Kristin Scott Thomas

The film is based on the second part of the novel by Irene Nemirovsky set in World War II. The gist of the story is on the romantic relationship between a German soldier and a French villager during Germany’s occupation of France during the war. Having Hollywood A-Listers helped get the attention of audiences outside France with the film released in the United Kingdom in that same year and is featured in the Lifetime cable network channel two years later. The movie also garnered positive reviews from critics.

District 13

Released: 2004

Director: Pierre Morel

Starring: David Belle, Cyril Rafaelli, Dany Verissimo

The film is also produced and co-written by acclaimed director Luc Besson. Set in a chaotic period, a contained suburb of Paris called B13 is ruled by gangs. A resident of B13 works closely with an undercover cop to rescue his kidnapped sister and stop a sinister plot. The film highlights the art of parkour performed mainly by Belle who helped found the art. Hollywood later released its own version in 2014 titled Brick Mansions starring the late Paul Walker and Belle also appears here as well in the same role.

Sweden has produced a lot of good movies worthy of attention outside its borders. They are so good and popular enough to be included in the online streaming sites, most notably Netflix and Prime. Here are the five Swedish films voted the most popular and considered must-see.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Of course there is no way you cannot include this film series based on the novels by Stieg Larsson.  The 2009 film directed by Niels Arden Oplev and starred Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace in the title role. The film is about a journalist who hires a hacker to help him find the killer of woman murdered 40 years ago. What makes this film interesting and not just like any other crime-thriller flicks is the intricate web of deceit and manipulation of the major characters, plus their issues make things even more complicated, it will be difficult to tell who is on the right side. Next to Netflix, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is also streaming on Hulu.

The film has found its way to audiences outside Sweden and has garnered great reviews. Despite its popularity, Hollywood came up with a remake in 2011 starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, and directed by David Fincher which also did well.

Force Majeure

This 2014 film is directed by Ruben Ostlund and stars Johannes Bah Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Kristofer Hivju, Clara Wettergren and Vicent Wettergren. The film is about a man who takes his family to a ski resort. He panicked following a controlled avalanche incident when he abandoned his family while seeking safety. This put a strain on his marriage and relationship with his children. The movie garnered good reviews, one of them underscoring the takedown of the false sense of security as it reveals the flaws in human character in the face of adversity. The film won the Jury Prize in the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. It was also screened at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival. A Hollywood remake starring Will Ferrell and Julia Dreyfus is said to be in the works.

Wallander

This 2005 film is based on the series of novels by Henning Mankell centering on a fictional Swedish police inspector who will do whatever it takes to solve crimes, even if it means resorting to unconventional tactics or breaking the rules. The movie was also released outside of Sweden and garnered sterling reviews. It enhanced the image of Mankell, putting him at par with the likes of James Patterson and Mickey Spillane. The film has led to the creation of TV adaptation in Sweden and the United Kingdom. Kenneth Branagh plays the title character in the latter version. The Swedish version is on Hulu streaming. You can also watch it on Netflix US.

Kiss Me

Also known under the title With Every Heartbeat, this 2011 film is directe by Alexandra-Therese Keining and stars Ruth Vega Fernandez, Joakim Natterqvist, Krister Henriksson and Lena Endre. The film focuses on lesbian relationship. A woman who has just gotten engaged goes on weekend getaway with her father’s live-in girlfriend and the latter’s daughter with whom she had an intimate relationship during that time spent together. The movie earned good reviews and has won the Breakthough Award at the 2011 AFI Festival.

Sound of Noise

This is a 2010 joint Swedish-French film directed by Ola Simonsson and Johannes Stjarne Nilsson. It stars Bengt Nilsson, Sanna Persson and Magnus Borjesson. It is about a group of anarchist musicians who play music using different non-musical objects they can find in several institutions in the city. One critic called the film “Bonnie and Clyde on Drums.” Other than that, blends music, crime-drama and romance. The film has received several accolades such as The Young Critics Award and Best Fantastic Film at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Next to Amazon Prime you can also watch it on Mubi.

There are a million reasons why Spain is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. One of the best ways to discover the wonderful places this country has to offer is to leisurely tour each place.   

Tip #1: Find the best car hire company  

Looking for the best car rentals is made easy through carrentals. You can find the best Spain car hire companies here. You can check out deals, rates, car models available, and pick up and drop off locations. They highlight the package offering. You can filter choices based on your preferences too. 

Tip #2: Know what you want to do 

With numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and World Heritage Cities, there are many things to see. If you only have a few weeks, identify your must-visit places and plan your itinerary. Give yourself enough time to explore an area though. Talk to locals, follow their suggestions on what local cuisine to try. Don’t be afraid to try hole-in-the-wall places too.   

Tip #3: Prepare travel essential items 

When going on road trips, have water bottles, cooler for food, and snacks handy. You never know when you can stop to have a meal or grab a drink. Having a GPS and a car mount phone holder are must-haves to make it easy to navigate the roads in Spain.  

Tip #4: Know road rules in Spain 

Spanish road rules are not that hard to follow. Just drive on the right side of the road. When overtaking, look for the white broken line. Also, don’t be surprised if Spanish drivers always flash their lights at you when passing. They are just obeying the law 

Another thing you need to remember is to never drink and drive. Spanish authorities are very strict when it comes to this, unless you want to be incarcerated. The allowable blood alcohol level is 0.5 per mg (0.1 per mg for newbies).  

Be mindful where you park, especially in big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Look for Blue Zones – pay parking areas. You might have to pay a hefty sum to claim your car if it gets towed. 

Before driving off in your rental, make sure you have the following items in the car: warning triangle, visibility vest, proper car documentation (registration, your license and/or international driving permit, and insurance), extra pair of glasses, and replacement light bulbs. A first aid kit would be good to have but not required.

Tip #5: Be ready to pay toll road fees 

A lot of highways require toll fees, especially in Catalonia. You can take smaller avoids, avoiding the highways and toll fees but may be more inconvenient and take you longer. Toll fees may range from 50 cents to 10 euro, with tunnels costing more. 

Whenever you take out your car, make sure you have your legal documents with you, like the car registration and driver’s license, as well as your car insurance policy. The same is true when you get a rental car.  

Renting a car is quite simple. But what makes it complicated and confusing is the car insurance policy for car rentals. Great thing that there are companies like Overstappen.nl to make it easy for the average Joe to have car insurance in the Netherlands and other places.

In-house car insurances & LDW’s

When renting a car, these rental companies usually have and offer their in-house car insurance. These companies usually strongly encourage you to get CDW (also known as collision damage waiver) or LDW (or loss damage waiver) from them but at such a high rate. They are supposed to give you a headache-free hand-off of the rental car at the end of the contract. Simply put, if you damage the car in any way, paying for a CDW or an LDW is your get-out-of-jail card. However, these waivers may start at USD 30 per day, wherein the actual actuarial cost is USD 3-4 per day, and are a lot higher than the actual car rental cost.

Alternative choices

Alternative choices are getting one from your insurance company or getting one as part of your travel package. Some car insurance companies can pay for any damage you might incur on short-term car rentals. Make sure it can cover rentals abroad. Also, credit card companies offer car rental accident insurance, especially when you use your credit card to pay for the car rental, as well.

Travel Insurance

Another option is to check if your travel package has an option to include car rental insurance coverage. They cost a lot less than the ones provided by car rental companies but these are usually the reimbursement type, i.e. you pay for it first then reimburse later; usually at USD 9-10 per day.  

 

No matter where you go, most people work hard to secure their future and the future of their family. Some people feel that no matter how hard they work in their homeland, they will never be rich. While it does not necessarily mean that it is impossible to be rich while you live in a developing country or that you will most likely get rich in developed countries, most people seem to believe this is true. And there are those who live in the fast lane and try their luck in casinos or other forms of gambling. But even when you find the best bookies for gamblers  you are probably still better of moving to these countries. 

 

The general perception of people is that it is easy to be rich in the United States. It is true that there are over 40,000 ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals living in the US, however, one-third of the American population live near or below the poverty line. If you compare the number of rich people (i.e. individuals with > USD 30 million net worth) versus the whole population, there are only has 126 rich people in the US per 1 million people. If you look at the following countries, they have several things in common. And these things make it easy for their citizens and immigrants alike to get rich. 

 

Norway 

Voted as the happiest country to live in for 2 consecutive years, Norway has been noted for its generous welfare, healthcare, and social security systems. It has the lowest crime rate in the world and has had the highest Human Development Index (7x) rating in the world. The government is perceived as trustworthy and run with integrity and transparency. Corruption is also very low. The standard of living is quite high in Norway, education is free, and it is considered as the most stable country in the world. There are 484 rich people per 1 million people living in Norway. 

 

Sweden 

Much like its close neighbor Norway, Sweden has generous welfare, healthcare, educational, and social security systems, as well as one of the highest Human Development Indexes. It ranks 11 in the world in terms of high per capita income. Though its crime rate is higher than its Scandinavian neighbors, it closed down 4 of its prisons due to a drop in the number of inmates. Bribery, theft, burglary, and drug problems are low but assault, sexual and hate crimes are more frequent. Though wealth inequality is high, wage inequality is low. There are 329 rich people per 1 million people in Sweden. 

 

New Zealand 

Known for its high quality of life, generous healthcare and educational systems, economic freedom, and protected civil liberties, New Zealand is one of the developed countries in the Pacific. It also ranks high on the Human Development Index. Though it suffered from brain drain in the 70s, it has had brain gain from the immigration of educated professionals in recent years. It has been recognized as one of the world’s most stable and well-governed states. New Zealand has 234 rich people per 1 million people. 

 

No matter how rich or poor the country you live in now is, what makes people get rich easily is finding one’s passion and working hard towards a goal. Combine these with sound financial decisions and you can become rich no matter where you are in the world. 

 

Travelers have many preferences and businesses and tourism organizations have recognized this. This is good news especially for horse lovers. In the past, it was difficult to find places for horse lovers to visit. But with technology and the internet, businesses get to know what people want and travelers get to know about different places that they could visit. Horse betting online is great for if you want to stay at home, but it can be more challenging to find great tourist destinations that involve horses. 

 

Okavango Delta, Botswana 

The Okavango Delta is a river delta in Botswana with a rich ecosystem suitable for fauna. In order to observe wildlife without disturbing them so much, horse safaris are the way to go. You will be able to go over the grasslands and dry land on horseback and run alongside elephants, zebra, and giraffe. You may be able to catch some hippos, crocodiles, lions, and leopards in their natural habitat. Several tour operators provide various tour packages. Prices may start at USD 724 per person per night, on a sharing basis. 

 

Khovsgol Province, Mongolia 

The Khovsgol Province is home to one of the last surviving nomadic tribes on the planet. The province, or Aimag, is mountainous and is well known for its pristine natural environment. Lake Khovsgol, also known as the blue peal of Mongolia, offers unlimited views of nature at its finest. Horse tours let you see and experience all the province’s natural beauty, riding through the forest, along steppes, meadows, mountains, and rivers. After a whole day of riding, camping tents are set up for weary travelers. Do not expect creature comforts nor Wi-Fi when you go to Khovsgol but you will surely enjoy meeting Mongolian nomadic families and resting your tired limbs in natural hot springs. Prices may start from USD 1,700 per person for 8 days or USD 2,200 per person for 10 days, with a required minimum group size. 

 

Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile 

The Torres del Paine National Park is one of the largest and most visited national parks in Chile. It is included in the National System of Protected Forested Areas of Chile and is home to 4 vegetation zones and to various wildlife. Travelers marvel at the granite peaks of the Paine mountain range, the lakes, the glaciers, and rivers. Horse tours are available to see nature and Paine’s flora and fauna. There are several horse tour packages, depending on duration and difficulty. For beginners, a 3-hour tour of the Nordenskjold Lake Horse Ride is the perfect relaxing way to see Lake Nordenskjold and go along the foot of Mount Almirante Nieto. This costs around USD 75. For people who want a more challenging ride, the Base Torres Horse Ride is an 8-hour ride from the base of the Towers to a hotel. This may cost around USD 102. 

 

There are so many ways now to enjoy the vast outdoors on horseback. Expect more and more tour packages to be offered as more and more people clamor for it. 

Traveling is the trendiest thing to do nowadays. Regardless if they are short or long, each trip is surely enjoyable. However, there are times when trips, especially road trips, may feel so long and boring. To keep them from being so, there are games that you can play to make the trip more fun and exciting. After all, playing games during trips help create more fond memories. If board games are not your cup of tea, playing casino with high limits online might tickle your fancy.  

Bananagrams 

If you are good with word games, then this is the game for you. Very much like Scrabble, but without the board, players get letter tiles that they use to form words with. Their words must be linked, just like in Scrabble, until they use up all their letters. There are no turns; everyone just needs to work on his own grid to use up all his letters. The game ends when there are fewer letters in the pile than players. The winner is the first one to use up all his letters and the first one to shout “Bananagrams.” American Abraham Nathanson came up with this game with his family. “Bananagrams” is derived from the word “anagram”. 

 

Qwirkle 

Susan McKinley Ross made the game published by Mindware in 2006. Qwirkle looks deceptively simple, with tiles printed with 6 different shapes and 6 different colors. But don’t be deceived; this game was given the Spiel des Jahres award, a prestigious award for game play and design. Qwirkle is like Scrabble and dominoes combined. During a turn, a player can place all alike tiles in one straight line. The key is they have to match in color or in shape. The game ends when there are no more tiles to play. The winner is the player who uses up all his tiles first. What makes it fun is the strategy you employ in laying down your tiles and scoring as many points as you can.  

 

Bluff 

This classic card game goes by many names, like Cheat, Bullshit, BS, I Doubt it, even Bologna. Bluff is best played by 2 to 6 players. The entire deck of cards is equally distributed among the players. The first player lays down a card face down and says the rank of the card he lays down. The next player has to lay down a card of the same rank (or higher or lower) as the previous card. If any player thinks a player is lying about the card he laid down, he calls out “Bluff” (or Bullshit, I doubt it, etc.). If it is a lie, the liar gets all the cards in the deck. But if not, the one that called the bluff has to get the deck. The winner is the one who is able to get rid of all his cards first. This is a great travel game because it allows everyone to playfully tease each other and reveals how well the players know each other.  

 

Whatever game you play, the important thing is the memories you create and the relationship that you build along with it.