Allo la France review – romance of French phone booths exposes funding cuts to rural services

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In an endearingly whimsical road trip documentary, Floriane Devigne takes calls from her interview subjects in the last remaining phone boxes dotted across rural France The humble telephone box, a souvenir from the days of analogue, can also be an intriguing cinematic locus. Floriane Devigne’s road trip documentary begins with such a relic: the last public phone booth in Paris, which also appears in Jacques Rivette’s mesmerising 1981 film Le Pont du Nord. Unlike their Instagrammable British counterparts, French phone boxes are usually painted in a demure grey and blend seamlessly with their surroundings. As it moves from the capital city to more remote areas, Devigne’s film observes the vanishing of a formerly essential utility as her cross-country odyssey sparkles with an endearing whimsicality. Instead of using talking heads, Devigne ducks into various phone boxes scattered across France, as she takes calls from her interview subjects. Stories of love and longing fill these unassum...
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After Reported Extortion Attempts From Baltimore Residents, Natalie Portman’s TV Show Has Been Paused

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The Baltimore Banner reported locals who were allegedly drug smugglers attacked producers on set around 4 p.m. on Friday and drew a gun before demanding $50,000, according to a police report it obtained. The actress, 41, is currently set to star in the upcoming Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake, but the shooting was stopped in Baltimore as a result. The production's organizers "agreed to come down on the side of caution and delay the shot when they secured another location," Baltimore Police Department spokesman James Moses told the publication. The show's producer, Endeavor Content, and the Baltimore City Police Department didn't initially request comment from PEOPLE, but Sharon Liggins, the company's senior vice president, did provide a comment. "Before the cast and crew arrived as scheduled on Friday afternoon at the Baltimore location of our production of Lady in the Lake, a driver for our production team was approached by two individuals; one of them pointed a gun in the direction of our driver before they fled the scene. The Baltimore Police Department and we are cooperating while the inquiry is continuing. "Observe the declaration. The statement continued, "Our first focus is the safety and well-being of our staff, cast, and all those involved in our shows, and we are grateful no one was hurt." With stronger security procedures coming forward, production will restart. Additionally, Liggins gave thanks to Baltimore: "It was an honor to collaborate with Baltimore's lively community to film Lady in the Lake there. We really appreciate the cooperation provided by the City of Baltimore, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Film Office, Maryland Film Office, and the Baltimore Police Department as we shoot scenes in the wonderful city of Baltimore and its neighboring neighborhoods." Portman has not made any public remarks about the experience.

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