Screening the French Riviera: À propos de Nice

Discover the contrasting realities of life on the French Riviera with a special screening of Jean Vigo and Boris Kaufman’s 1930 documentary À propos de Nice, followed by a talk with historian Richard Vinen.

Through Vigo’s provocative portrait of Nice, the film reveals the city’s striking social contrasts: from the spectacle, glamour and leisure of carnival along the Promenade to the poverty of the working-class quartiers beyond the parasols and champagne. The screening offers a fascinating glimpse into the Côte d’Azur at a time of profound social and economic change.

Following the film, Richard Vinen will explore the Riviera’s two competing realities in the 20th century, its reputation as a sun-soaked playground for artists, authors and aristocrats alongside the poverty and hardship experienced by many local residents in the aftermath of war and during the Great Depression.

About Richard Vinen

Richard Vinen has taught history at King’s College London since 1991 and specialises in modern France and Europe. His research and writing have explored subjects including Vichy France, the Fourth Republic and Charles de Gaulle.

Film: À propos de Nice (1930), directed by Jean Vigo and Boris Kaufman.