A Japanese, a Dane and an American were on French TV...
Bernard Pivot of the French cultural program "Apostrophe" fame is now doing a monthly show called "Double Je". He is trying to find non-French people who have somehow dedicated their lives, or part of their lives, to French culture.
The Japanese Balzacian Kazuo Kiriu has written an impressive ‘Balzac’ Dictionary over a twenty year period, and spent thirty years teaching French Literature in Japan. His dream is to afford to retire in France. His love for Balzac, and his immense dedication to French literature is very touching.
The Danish Queen Margrethe II, as well as having married a French count - Henri Marie Jean André - has translated Simone de Beauvoir’s “Tous les hommes sont mortels” into Danish, and speaks impeccable French. She is also an accomplished artist.
Now onto John Malkovich. Pivot visited Malkovich in his country house in Provence. Most of Malkovich’s conversation dwelt on how quickly he learnt French (badly, though I might add) and how he could never communicate with his non-English speaking Croatian grandparents.
Near the middle of the interview, Malkovich started throwing in ‘tu’s instead of the obligatory ‘vous’ at his interviewer. There was no mistake in this. If it isn't the ultimate insult at his French host, then what is. Malkovich seems neither at home in America, nor in France. Perhaps he should try Croatia next.