Article

2003-06-11 Fifth Column

Director Woody Allen has said he will eat French fries and French kiss his ~~daughter~~ wife as part of a video he is fronting to promote France in the US. The video, called Let's Fall in Love Again, comes in the wake of the recent US-led war with Iraq, which failed to gain backing from France. Other stars appearing in the video include actor Robert De Niro, jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and the writer George Plimpton.
Bob, say it isn't so!
"Recently there has been a lot of controversy between the two countries, and I would hope that now they could put all that behind them and start to build on what really has been a great, great friendship," he said in the video. "And I will not have to refer to my French fried potatoes as freedom fries and I will not have to freedom kiss my wife when all I want to do is French kiss her. So let's pull together now." American retaliation for France's anti-war stance included the renaming of French fries in some restaurants and cafes - including some at Capitol Hill - to Freedom fries. Some media called for boycotts of French products as well. Right-wing French opponents rallied behind the phrase "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" to describe the French, a line coined in animated comedy The Simpsons. Let's Fall in Love Again is being played to travel journalists at lunches in the US in an effort to boost the numbers of Americans visiting France. The number of US visitors to France has dropped 15% since the war in Iraq.
And the summer tourist season hasn't even started yet.
Allen, who has worked with the French tourist office before, has a long affinity with the European country. At last year's Cannes Film Festival he defended French culture and countered claims from US Jewish groups that the country was prone to anti-Semitic feeling.
Bet he didn't talk to any French Jewish groups.

Posted by Steve 2003-06-11 10:28 am|| || Front Page|| [11138 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 but its cool to drink kosher wine from France, no??

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-06-11 10:52:12|| 2003-06-11 10:52:12|| Front Page Top

#2 You know, seeing Woody Allen french kiss his former-adopted-daughter-now-wife may be all it takes for America to want to declare war on France. Considering what looms with the EU, I say bring it on.

Posted by FormerLiberal 2003-06-11 10:56:44|| 2003-06-11 10:56:44|| Front Page Top

#3 Let's Fall in Love Again...
With our teenage stepdaughters. Sounds like Woody might be familiar with some of "the prophet's" antics.

Posted by tu3031 2003-06-11 11:03:25|| 2003-06-11 11:03:25|| Front Page Top

#4 This was covered a week or two ago, but you never want to miss an opportunity to bash the frogs. What the hell French marketing guru thought up this loony?

Posted by ColoradoConservative 2003-06-11 11:13:08|| 2003-06-11 11:13:08|| Front Page Top

#5 It pleases me so much to see this kind of thing. It means the people-based boycott of France is having a negative impact on that country's economy, and highlights the people in the US I should avoid. Someone needs to create a webpage with the names of these French suck-ups prominently displayed.

Posted by Old Patriot 2003-06-11 11:29:34|| 2003-06-11 11:29:34|| Front Page Top

#6 One would hope that it is the boycott having such an effect, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the weak dollar and travel jitters are having a significant effect as well.

Posted by ColoradoConservative 2003-06-11 11:40:27|| 2003-06-11 11:40:27|| Front Page Top

#7 How *did* the French get this tone deaf, for lack of a better phrase? While I think some of the ongoing boycotts may be punishing the wrong people (like the decreace in travel to Canada, even if the area in question, like the Maritimes, is conservative), the French seem to be doing everything in their power to make things worse. I'm beginning to think they really, REALLY don't understand us.

Posted by Phil Fraering 2003-06-11 11:45:39|| [thenostromo.com/pgf/weblog/] 2003-06-11 11:45:39|| Front Page Top

#8 Again: Once Woody's over they'll spin a new series with pedophile drug-raping Roman Polanski, Film Auteur

Posted by Frank G 2003-06-11 11:54:07|| 2003-06-11 11:54:07|| Front Page Top

#9 And lets not forget the comic idol of France, Jerry Lewis.

Posted by Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire 2003-06-11 12:03:13|| 2003-06-11 12:03:13|| Front Page Top

#10 Dear Mr. Allen,
Please remember not to french kiss your wife on the subway or in restaurants, it really grosses people out.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-06-11 12:18:21|| 2003-06-11 12:18:21|| Front Page Top

#11 Yes, an unfaithful, perverse and provincially chauvinistic spokesman for France, how appropriate!

Posted by Ernest Brown 2003-06-11 12:39:27|| [saturninretrograde.blogspot.com] 2003-06-11 12:39:27|| Front Page Top

#12 Speaking of things French, I'll be watching the 24 hours of Le Mans this weekend; and rooting for Team Corvette!

Posted by Hiryu 2003-06-11 12:45:16|| 2003-06-11 12:45:16|| Front Page Top

#13 Now this IS a tricky frog ploy! I can't retaliate against this French promotion because I have already been boycotting Woody for years. How devious!

Posted by Tom 2003-06-11 15:31:34|| 2003-06-11 15:31:34|| Front Page Top

#14 I've seen a news item on this issue, and it showed Woody talking about freedom/french fries and kisses. Only thing was that he was condescending, maybe not intentionally so, but by discrediting the American "street", he'll just pissed us off more at the French. So Woody, I've liked most of your films, but don't think a sophisticated Manhattanite such as yourself will have any impact on getting us to visit France. This whole campaign should not have even gotten off the ground as the more we see Woody, the more we'll think of Chirac and da vile pin.

Posted by Michael 2003-06-11 16:37:13|| 2003-06-11 16:37:13|| Front Page Top

#15 Michael,

I prefer to call him "de Villepinhead".

Posted by ColoradoConservative 2003-06-11 17:26:08|| 2003-06-11 17:26:08|| Front Page Top

#16 Yes, CC, I've noticed. Keep up the good work, BTW, as well. Have a good evening. :)

Posted by Michael 2003-06-11 21:50:58|| 2003-06-11 21:50:58|| Front Page Top

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