Xavier Bichon talks to Philippe Triboit who directed the already-cult TV series Spiral (Engrenages) currently screening on SBS TV. This amazing new eight-part thriller combines the great French tradition of the policier with all the excitement of the best US crime series. It avoids sightseeing; a distant glimpse of the Eiffel Tower barely intrudes. Triboit’s cameras keep filming every graphic detail. No wonder detective Fromentin (Fred Bianconi), a novice attendee at such procedures, almost passes out during the autopsy on the murdered girl. By the end of the first episode, you will be hooked! Philippe Triboit explains why Spiral is different from any other TV series.

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In 2000, renowned photographer Claude Ho was sent to Malawi by Medecins Sans Frontieres to cover the plight of orphaned children in the Thyolo District. During his visit, he was struck by the lack of social support for the young and old who were infected or affected by the pandemic, and decided, with the help of two friends there, to found the NGO, Fochta. From the outset, all three decided that the best way forward was to promote education, so that young people might have a future and the chance to escape from the poverty cycle. In Resilient Africa, Claude Ho photographs everyone from a Congolese woman reading stories to a score of small children to a young girl marathon dancing in Mali. Resilient Africa exhibition at Customs House, Sydney, until 06/07/2008

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Xavier Bichon talks to Pierre Servent who is an expert in military strategies and defense issues. Pierre Servent appears often in the media worldwide. He is also a journalist for Le Monde and has written political books. Pierre gives an analysis of what really happened in the French southern city of Carcassonne where a soldier shot and wounded 17 people last Sunday, including a three-year-old boy and both his parents, at an open day at an army barracks.

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Xavier Bichon talks to French beekeeper Yves Ginat, the protagonist of the Australian documentary The Beekeeper's Daughter (broadcast on SBS TV on 03/07/2008). Based in Tasmania, Yves, the beekeeper prepares fine honeys using the traditional methods of his French homeland. In Tasmania, Yves has found the source of the finest honey he's ever tasted - a white honey collected from late-blooming heather that grows in the highlights. Yves' apprentice is his nine-year-old daughter, Marlin. Through her eyes, the complex mysteries of beekeeping - from dipping hives to culling spare queens - are explored.

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The French Navy Ship Prairial was in the Sydney port for four days. Commander Rouvière talks about his career , the missions and the cooperation with the Australian and American Navy in the region. The singer-composer-philosopher and story teller Wasis Diop has just produced a wonderful opus called : Judu Bék-Joie de Vivre. He speaks about Africa and Music .

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Xavier Bichon talks to Dr Paula Abood who spent 4 months in Paris at La Cité Internationale des Arts in 2007 supported through Australia Council’s Community Partnership Program. While France and Australia both have large immigrant and refugee populations, Paula shows in her report that both have radically different approaches to community and difference. With France labouring under the system of integration (&uot;l’intégration&uot;), Australia’s experience of multiculturalism provides an opportunity to examine how identity, community and culture are enabled via the field of community cultural development.

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The Franco -Australian couple Belle du Berry and David Lewis are the founder with Podzy, of the group Paris -Combo. From time to time they take a sabbatical and do Cabaret , as they have just done with another musician , at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Their new CD should be coming out soon.

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Xavier Bichon talks to Pierre Ollivier who is the director of the Pacific International Documentary Film Festival (FIFO) and Philippe Boisserand who is the French attaché for the Australian Consulate in Nouméa, New Caledonia. Pierre and Philippe were in Australia to promote the FIFO which is the biggest documentary event in the Pacific region. Its priority is to show Oceania through the eyes of its inhabitants and those of other continents. The competition is open to anyone having directed a documentary about Oceania. All the films selected are viewed by a jury of audiovisual professionals of international repute. 40 films are selected for screening at the festival (20 of which are in the running for the awards). For more information, please visit the following website :http://www.filmfestivaloceanie.org/

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François Giner has written a book on a tribe into which he has been accepted: En Terre Aborigene. Written in French , the book is being translated in English. David Rieuff is a World Reporter and writer . He is also the son of Susan Sontag and his last book: &uot;Swimming in the Sea of Death&uot; is about her. Caroline Nin is a singer of Piaf -Dietrich and some of the great American Soul singers. She is presenting her concert , in Sydney: Studio-Opera House 26th , 27th, 28th of June and 1st , 2nd, 3rd, 4th , 5th of July -Hurry they may already have sold out.

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Our guest today is His Excellency Christian Mühlethaler, The Swiss Ambassador in Australia, leaving after nearly 4 years. His next posting is in Budapest, Hungary. For more information on the Embassy of Switzerland: www.eda.admin.ch/australia Music: Raphaël, le vent d’hiver ( R Haroche ) delabel Lc 0542509952010 507 Pot Pourri, lascia lo pianga ( Handel ) Mem 017

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Caroline Nin is a wondrous singer and stage persona. She is following two huge stars : Piaf and Dietrich in the first part of her tour. The American soul and Blues legends follow on the Sydney leg of the Tour. If you are lucky you may still get some tickets 25th,26th, 27th ∓ 28th of June Studio Sydney Opera House Good luck but if you can't get tickets , just hear the melifluous voice of Caroline Nin , in interview.

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The cultural and social activities of the Alliance française de Melbourne, de Sydney, d'Adelaide, de Brisbane, de Canberra, de Perth for the month of June. Music: GSE CDGML 4200

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We continue the interview with Dr Srilata Ravi, Senior Lecturer in French and Chair European Languages and Studies at the University of Western Australia. She recently launched her book Rainbow Colours: Literary ethno-topographies of Mauritius at the Alliance française de Perth. The book is published by Lanham:Lexington books. We meet Caroline Nin (pictured ) French chanteuse who is on her fourth tour of Australia. She made her debut in the late 80s at the Hollywood Savoy, a Parisian jazz venue. She has produced the show — Hymne à Piaf which she brought at the Sydney Opera House in 2007. She presented the world premiere of her new show Marlene at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. She will now perform at the Sydney Opera House -The studio June 26th to July 7th. For more information: www.sydneyoperahouse.com or www.carolinenin.com Music: Albin de La Simone, catastrophe ( A de La Simone ) Wagram 3131385 Caroline Nin, Lili Marlene ( H Leip )

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François Giner, author of “En Terre Aborigène” continues his conversation about his encounter with the Aboriginal world. He runs the Bodeidei Camp, a small tourist camp on their traditional land in Arnhem Land, accessible only for four months of the year because of climatic conditions. Brigitte Lefèvre is the Artistic Director of Paris Opera Ballet, the French ballet company based in Paris and the oldest national ballet company in the world! The Paris Opera ballet is bringing the biggest touring production to Melbourne in 2009. Music: Albin de La Simone, Adrienne ( A de La Simone ) Wagram 3131385 Salsedo, mon amour ( Salsedo ) sony bmg 1c 00 162 88697272912 Pot Pourri, va pensiero ( Nabucco ) Mem 017

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Xavier Bichon speaks to Sally Blackwood who is a director for NIDA, Australia’s premier performing arts institute. Sally is in charge of NIDA’s Atelier Theatre and is looking for French speakers for her upcoming production. The aim of this project is to perform a play in French in September over 3 nights in a NIDA theatre. The play text will be selected to suit the applicants who audition. Sally says that this production is ideal for native French speakers and advanced French students in secondary school or university.

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