Audrey Tautou of Amelie fame stars in the Da Vinci Code, out in the movies this Friday night featuring my favourite actress and Tom Hanks. The film provides an amazing array of learning opportunities in the domain of French culture, art history, religious and moral educaction, history… Here is one of my ideas. What could be added on here?

The INA Video Archive
I recently discovered over 100,000 archive videos from the INA in France, black and white and colour footage charting history from a Francophone point of view. Imagine using these as the backdrop to some digital storytelling in any language (Wes, would this work?). Here’s a whole pack that goes with the Louvre museum. Excellent quality audio (in French) and video. I love the bit about La Joconde arriving from the States via Le Havre to the Louvre, along with the story of how they had to swap the real one for a fake during the filming of the blockbuster.

Update:
Wes has taken the gauntlet, bought a matching one and a whole darned suit of armour in my quest to make a teachable moment out of the Da Vinci code. The wiki page – a webpage anyone can change - is there now for you to give your own ideas.

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