Hot off the press!
By Fatima Zaidi
Ooh la la, the Bimble team recently had the chance to head down to 180 The Strand’s new exhibit on Wes Anderson’s latest and highly-anticipated feature film. With the original sets, props and costumes on display, come Bimble with me through the world of The French Dispatch 🎬. Lights, Camera, Bimble!
The film reportedly received a 9 minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival when it premiered! I’ll be honest I didn’t stand up and clap at the end but I was similarly impressed by this unique and immersive exhibit from 180 Studios. The real costumes worn by the film’s stellar ensemble cast, including Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson and Léa Seydoux, are all on display amongst genuine props from the film set and reconstructions of where it all takes place — in Wes Anderson’s fictional French town of Ennui-sur-Blasé. It’s a genuinely special experience to recognise and experience moments from a 2D screen in the real 3D world.
What made this experience even more speical, was getting to see all the minuscule details that go into the creation of a film like this in person. Each tiny notice on the pinboard from the movie’s opening sequence has a written note on it that would make sense in the fictional world of the film. Things like pitches from journalists at The French Dispatch, complete with corrections & suggestions from the editor. It’s the little things.
And equally, it’s the big things. The artwork that forms a major part of the plot is on display in a floor to ceiling exhibition hall, making it feel as if you’re one of the characters in the movie yourself. For those who have yet to catch the movie, the exhibition is still such a valuable insight into the joy of filmmaking.
As the exhibition comes to an end, visitors are in for a real sweet treat. 180 Studios substituted a traditional museum café and gift shop for a full reconstruction of Le Sans Blague, the café where Timothée Chalamet’s character and his cohort of young student protestors make a scene. All this and French patisserie, it’s enough to leave you starstruck.
If you’re in London or visiting soon, I’ve got your weekend plans sorted. First, catch the movie on Friday night at a local indie cinema of your choice and then head out to see the exhibition on Saturday. Hurry now as the exhibition is temporary and tickets must be booked in advance. If you need some inspo, check out my Bimble for my top cinema picks in London and for more of your culture fix, my favourite museums & galleries in the city. Until next time, au revoir!
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