Amazon.com
Tourists, armchair or actual, who want to see more than just the City of Light will enjoy this thorough video tour of France's other regions; in fact, Paris doesn't even enter the picture until the last third of this hour-long tape. The narrator tells viewers about history and cultural influences while visuals concentrate on famous landmarks and local color. For instance, there are gorgeous shots of the 3/4-square-mile principality of Monaco (population less than 30,000), while viewers get the lowdown on Princess Grace. The serene countryside of the Roman town of Arles is supplemented by Van Gogh's rendition of it and the famous tale of how he parted with his ear. France's significant roles in both world wars are explored via the Rodin statue in Verdun (WWI) and the beaches of Normandy (WWII). From fairy tale castles and wine to the Cannes Film Festival and the French Revolution, the non-Parisian landmarks of Europe's largest country get ample airtime. And then, finally, the tape takes viewers to the capital city--the museums, the cafes, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe. One tiny note: the video makes a bizarre departure by showing old grainy footage of a man in winged costume "flying" off the tower and appearing not to make it. The narrator does not elaborate, but children might ask their parents to do so.
--Kimberly Heinrichs
