I love the adventure stories with twisted plots, mysteries, puzzles. That is why I love the stories created by Dan Brown and his major character Professor Robert Langdon who was very well played by Tom Hanks in the series of successful movies. Moreover, in my travel adventures I managed to visit most of the countries, places, museums, etc, and even CERN, which are described in the books and movies. And when I watch the movies I travel back in time together with Professor Langdon.
So, today I invite you to solve great mysteries of Leonardo, Illuminati, and Dante. It’s time to refresh your knowledge of history and arts. Welcome aboard!
Jacques Saunière, a Louvre curator, is pursued through the Grand Gallery by an albino Catholic monk named Silas, who demands the location of the Priory’s “keystone” to find and destroy the Holy Grail. Saunière gives him a false lead and is murdered. The police find his body posed like Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Police captain Bezu Fache has his lieutenant, Jérôme Collet, summon American symbologist Robert Langdon, who is in Paris for a lecture on the interpretation of symbols, to examine Saunière’s body.
Langdon is shown the body and a secret message, readable only by blacklight. It contains an out-of-order Fibonacci sequence. Sophie Neveu, a police cryptographer and Saunière’s granddaughter, tells Langdon that Fache planted a tracker on him after finding the words, “P.S. Find Robert Langdon” at the end of Saunière’s secret message. Fache believes that Langdon murdered Saunière. Sophie throws away the tracker, distracting the police while they sneak around the Louvre, finding more clues in Leonardo da Vinci’s works. Langdon deduces that Saunière was the grand master of the Priory of Sion. And our adventure begins.
We meet Professor Robert Langdon for the first time during his lecture. He uses Sony laptop for his presentation.
In one of the next scenes of the movie we can clearly see the van with Bosch logo. Same is for the famous French water – Badoit. We can see it in a bucket full of ice.
When Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) come to the bank to retrieve the cryptex, we can see how KUKA robot picks the right box that belonged to Jacques Saunière. When the bank employee helps the main characters to pass the police, we can get a glimpse of his Rolex watch.
At Sir Leigh Teabing’s (Ian McKellen) house our guests learn more about The Last Supper painting secrets. Their host is also a fan of Sony, so we may see various TV sets and displays in the house. While enjoying their evening tea, we can as well see Heinz there, of course.
When Robert Langdon and Sophie look for a tomb in London, they borrow a Sony Ericsson smartphone to search for more information.
In the final scene of the movie we see that Robert lives in Ritz hotel in Paris, and from there he starts his evening walk to follow the Arago medallions and come to the Louvre.
The Catholic Church mourns the sudden death of Pope Pius XVI, and prepares for the papal conclave to elect his successor in Vatican City. Father Patrick McKenna (Ewan McGregor), the camerlengo, takes temporary control of the Vatican during the sede vacante period.
Meanwhile, at CERN, scientists Father Silvano Bentivoglio and Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer) create three canisters of antimatter. As Vetra goes to evaluate the experiment, she discovers that Silvano has been murdered, and one of the canisters was stolen. Shortly thereafter, four of the preferiti, the favored candidates to be elected pope, are kidnapped by a man claiming to represent the Illuminati. He sends the Vatican a warning, claiming he will murder each of the cardinals from 8 p.m. to midnight, when the stolen antimatter will explode and destroy the city, hidden somewhere within.
Unlike two other movies, there are only few product placements in Angels & Demons. And they can be divided in two categories – Sony and TV channels.
That is why we see Sony computers and displays in the first scene in CERN.
And when the events of the movie accelerate, we can see various TV channels broadcasting from Vatican City. These are Canal+, CNN, and Reuters.
And this is it for Angels & Demons. More product placements are waiting in Inferno.
Some time after helping the Vatican dealing with an antimatter threat, Harvard University professor Robert Langdon awakens in a hospital room in Florence, Italy, with no memory of what has transpired over the last few days, but being plagued with hellish visions. Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), the doctor tending to him, reveals that he is suffering from amnesia as a result of a bullet wound to the head. An orderly says the police are there to question Langdon but the officer turns out to be Vayentha, an assassin, who shoots the orderly while coming up the hallway. Brooks helps Langdon to escape, and they flee to her apartment.
Among Langdon’s personal belongings, Langdon and Brooks find a Faraday pointer, a miniature image projector with a modified version of Sandro Botticelli’s Map of Hell, which itself is based on Dante’s Inferno. They soon realize this is the first clue in a trail left by Bertrand Zobrist, a dangerously unstable villain who believed that rigorous measures were necessary to reduce the Earth’s growing population, and who committed suicide three days earlier after being chased by armed government agents.
When Robert Langdon wakes up in Sienna’s house, we can find various brands across her apartment. First of all we see Sony TV remote controls. And when Professor asks for coffee, Sienna goes to the kitchen where we spot tea brands like Greenfield and Twinings.
While Sienna is looking for some clothes for Robert, he decides to use her Apple MacBook to check his Google mail.
When Robert and Sienna decide to call to the consulate, we see that Sienna uses Sony smartphone. When they realize that they can trust no one, they start their investigation. First, they search for the information about Zobrist. Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube are very helpful even in the movies.
Later in the movie we see more Sony product placements – a TV set in Command Risk Consortium, a smartphone and a tablet used by Elizabeth Sinskey.
When Robert Langdon and Sienna Brooks try to escape from their enemies with the help of Christoph Bouchard, they make everyone believe they are going to fly to Switzerland via Swiss, but instead they take an Italo speed train to Venice.
When finally the truth is revealed and memory is restored, Robert and Elizabeth go to Istanbul to stop Sienna from unleashing the virus. Elizabeth shares Zobrist’s message with Robert. They watch it together on a Dell laptop.
In the final scene when Professor returns Dante’s mask to the museum, we can see the museum employee wearing the tag with the Florentine Civic Museums branding.
Unfortunately, there is no news about the future movies with Tom Hanks. And no news about any new books. Looking forward to new adventures of Professor Langdon.
I highly recommend you to visit Product Placement section of the website. You will find more amazing movie series analysed there.
Franklin D. Roosevelt es una estación de las líneas 1 y 9 del metro de París, situada en el VIII Distrito de la capital. La estación se encuentra en los alrededores de la Glorieta de los Campos Elíseos (Rond Point des Champs Elysées). En 2004 superaba los 12 millones de viajeros anuales.1
Inicialmente existían dos estaciones distintas : Marbeuf, la estación de la línea 1 inaugurada en 1900 y Rond Point des Champs Elysées, la estación de la línea 9, puesta en marcha en 1923. Esto explica porque dos de los accesos de la estación requieren pasar por los andenes de la línea 1 para llegar a la línea 9.
El 6 de octubre de 1942 se puso en servicio un pasillo de enlace entre ambas estaciones, de forma que el nombre de ambas se cambió por Marbeuf - Rond Point des Champs-Élysées.
Al acabar la Segunda Guerra Mundial la estación pasó a llamarse Franklin D. Roosevelt debido a que la cercana avenida Victor-Emmanuel III había sido renombrada como avenida Franklin D. Roosevelt. Se sustituía así el nombre de un jefe de Estado de un país enemigo durante el conflicto, Italia, por el de un jefe de Estado de un país aliado de Francia como había sido Estados Unidos.
Se compone de dos andenes laterales de 90 metros de longitud, situados bajo la avenida de los Campos Elíseos a la altura del cruce con la calle Marbeuf, y de dos vías.
Durante mucho tiempo, más de 60 años, la estación lució uno de los diseños más característicos de la red basándose en un estilo que estuvo en voga en la década de los 50 y de los 60. La idea de base consistía en revestir las estaciones con diversos materiales para alejarse así del sobrio diseño clásico. En Franklin D. Roosevelt el estilo fue llevado aún más allá usando una técnica de manipulación del vidrio llamada gemmail dando lugar a auténticas vidrieras modernas. Tonos verdes y anaranjados, bancos empotrados y señalización en relieve eran otras de las características de la estación.
En 2010, y dentro del plano de renovación del metro parisino puesto en marcha por la RATP en los años 2000, el revestimiento ha sido suprimido. Se prevé que sea sustituido por el funcional pero más anodino azulejo blanco biselado. La reforma ha supuesto también la instalación de puertas de andén como sucede en todas las estaciones de la línea 1.
Ejemplo de vitrina publicitaria existente en el año 2008.
Se compone de dos andenes laterales de 75 metros de longitud, situados bajo la Avenida Montaigne a la salida de la Glorieta de los Campos Elíseos, y de dos vías.
Fue la primera estación de la red, en 1952, en ser renovada según el estilo carrossage. En él se empleaba diversos materiales para revestir los clásicos azulejos blancos del metro parisino.
Durante mucho tiempo su publicidad se limitó a curiosas vitrinas publicitarias, donde la publicidad no aparecía en paneles diseñados a tal efecto sino que se usaban pequeñas vitrinas donde se mostraba el producto que se pretendía publicitar indicando donde podía ser adquirido.
El amarillo, presente en los muchos asientos de tipo Motte y en los marcos de las vitrinas, es el tono predominante en la estación.
Como en la estación de la línea 1, la señalización aparece en relieve usando en este caso un color dorado.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Metro station, a tribute to the former US President
Franklin D. Roosevelt Metro station boasts a contemporary decor that pays homage to its namesake, the revered US President who commanded Allied troops during World War II. Following a complete renovation in 2011, the station’s aesthetic is very international, reflecting its proximity to the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysées, one of Paris’s most iconic tourist destinations, and serves as a tribute to the United States.
General view of the station
Modernity is a central theme, evident in the station’s metal ceiling lamps adorned with intricate perforations that illuminate the platforms. The black and yellow color scheme of the tiles adorning the walls and vaulted ceiling further accentuates the contemporary ambiance.
The seating arrangements, designed to complement the modern aesthetic, offer a choice between two styles. Dark grey metal bucket-style seats exude contemporary sophistication, while standard-shaped yellow seats add a vibrant pop of color to the space.
Lastly, adding a dynamic touch, five touch-screen displays along the platforms accommodate temporary advertising campaigns, infusing the station with a sense of versatility and innovation.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Metro Station on Line 1
Franklin D. Roosevelt Metro station is situated on Line 1, the very first line of the Paris Metro system inaugurated for the Exhibition Universelle of 1900.
Yellow and Black colour scheme and touch-screen
Today, the station operates as a fully automated system, devoid of a driver, with glass safety screens effectively isolating the platforms from the rails, ensuring passenger safety.
The great circle alignment from Giza to Alexandria has an azimuth of 51.85° north of due west from Giza (the same angle as the slope of the Great Pyramid). Extended beyond Alexandria, this great circle also crosses over Delphi, Rollright and Newgrange, as well as the city of London.
Dendera was dedicated to Isis/Sirius. The ancient Egyptian year began on the date of the heliacal rising of Sirius in mid July. The helical rising of Sirius heralded the annual inundation of the Nile that was essential to the welfare of ancient Egypt. The axis of the temple of Isis at Dendera was aligned 20° south of due east, pointing directly at the rising point of Sirius from the latitude of Dendera.
Robert Bauval describes a number of connections between Isis/Sirius and Paris in Talisman (2004). Isis is shown riding on a boat in many ancient Egyptian drawings and carvings. At the direction of Napoleon, Sirius and a statue of Isis were added to the coat of arms for Paris shown below.
During the French revolution, a statue of Isis known as the Fountain of Regeneration was constructed on the former site of the Bastille. The engraving below commemorated this statue.
The Elysian Fields is described as a place of eternal salvation in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. Named after the Elysian Fields, the Champs Elysees is the main axis of Paris. The names Elysian and Elysees both suggest an association with Isis. The photograph below is facing southeast. The Arc de Triumphe is visible in the background. Beyond the Arc de Triumphe is the Louvre. The azimuth of the Champs Elysees is 26° south of due east, pointing directly at the rising point of Sirius/Isis from the latitude of Paris.
The termination point of the Champs Elysees to the northwest is the Grande Arche, in the foreground of the picture above. The axis of the Grande Arche is offset 6.33° south of the axis of the Champs Elysees. With an azimuth of just over 32° south of due east, the azimuth of the axis of the Grande Arche is the same as the azimuth of the great circle alignment from Paris to Dendera.
The Grande Arche is a nearly perfect cube with a height of 110 meters, a width of 108 meters and a depth of 112 meters. It is often described as a cube with side lengths of 110 meters. This is equal to 210 ancient Egyptian cubits:
110/210 = .5238
.5238 meters is a precise measure of the ancient Egyptian cubit, equating to 20.6222 inches, well within the ± .005 inches in Petrie's 20.62 inch measure of the ancient Egyptian cubit. Instead of the usual comparisons between the cubit and the meter of .52375/1 or .524/1, the best comparative measure may be the simple fraction of 11/21 that is suggested by the Grande Arche.
The sides of the Grande Arche are divided into 5 x 5 large panels and within each large panel are 7 x 7 smaller panels. Side lengths of 110 meters suggest lengths of 22 meters for the sides of the large panels with lengths of 22/7 meters for the sides of the smaller panels. The fraction 22/7 equals 3.1428, an accurate expression of π that is also found in the dimensions of the Great Pyramid. Side lengths of 210 cubits in the Grande Arche suggest lengths of 42 cubits for the sides of the large panels and 6 cubits for the sides of the smaller panels. This also shows that the relationship between the meter and the cubit is 6/π, using the measure of 22/7 for π:
21/11 = 6/π
22/7 x 21/11 = 6
The northern pyramid at Dashur, known as the Red Pyramid, was the first true (smooth sided) pyramid built in Egypt and it was the last pyramid built prior to construction of the Great Pyramid. The baselengths of the Red Pyramid are 420 cubits (220 meters) long, 20x multiples of 21/11.
One of the oldest stone circles in England is at Rollright. The diameter of the Rollright circle is 31.4 meters, an accurate expression of π times 10 meters. Given the 6/π relationship between the meter and the cubit, the diameter of the Rollright circle is also 60 ancient Egyptian cubits.
With more than a million visitors each year, Castel Sant’Angelo (also known as Mole Adriana) is one of the main landmarks in Rome. Surrounded by massive walls, the central structure has a peculiar circular shape, which stand 48 meters above the ground. The site has undergone an incredible number of changes and structural alterations: from monumental burial site to fortress, from horrific prison to splendid private residence, from military headquarters to world famous museum.
This very special castle, just a stroll away from the Vatican, doesn’t have the gloomy and grim looks of the Medieval fortresses, but, as we will see, its mighty walls, halls decorated with frescoes and grids of passages, do hide more than one secret. A visit to this site, is not just a travel back in time, but an exciting travel through time, from 2000 years ago, up to the present day.
A Mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian
The story begins around 130 A.D. when the emperor Hadrian, who wasn’t only greatly fascinated by art and philosophy, but highly regarded the spiritual world, decided to build a monument that would have served as the burial site for him, his family and his successors. As inspiration, he used the mausoleum of Augustus. The monument had a square plant, and was built with precious marbles and decorated with statues. At the top, it was surmounted by a huge shiny bronze statue of Hadrian riding a quadriga (a four-horse chariot).
The mausoleum was located in the suburbs of the city, on the other side of the Tiber river banks, where the Forum and the other important buildings stood. For this reason, a bridge was built to connect the site to the rest of the city. The construction works took some years, and were only completed by the successor of Hadrian, Antonino Pio, in 139 AD. Hadrian was finally buried here, together with his beloved wife Sabine. Among the emperors that were laid to rest here, there are Antonino Pio, Commodo, Marcus Aurelius and Caracalla, together with most of their wives and sons.
Hadrian's dream became reality, and the emperors, which were adored as deities after their death, would have had a proper burial. But, when reading the verses that Hadrian dedicated to his own soul, and engraved on a plaque in the imperial urns hall, we discover a much more intimate dimension to his feelings and fears about his inevitable passing away.
“Animula vagula blandula, Hospes comesque corporis, Quae nunc abibis? In Loca, Pallidula rigida nudula, nec ut soles dabis Iocos.” "Little soul, you charming little wanderer, my body’s guest and partner, where are you off to now? Somewhere without color, savage and bare; You’ll crack no more of your jokes once you’re there.” (Hadrian)
The Fortress, the Vatican and the Passetto
In 400 AD, the emperor Onorio decided to convert the castle into a fortress, to protect the city from the increasing raids of the Barbarians. The structure was incorporated into the Aurelian walls and fitted with turrets and bastions.
During the siege of the Vandals, the Romans finished all the ammunition, and started to throw to their opponents any heavy object they could find, included many statues dating back to Hadrian’s times. One of those, the Faunus Barberini, was found many years later lying in the river Tiber. It was restored and sold to a German prince of Bavaria by the Barberini family, who were in financial hardship. The statue, considered one of the masterpieces of Hellenistic art, is still in Germany.
After the fall of the Empire, the castle was quarreled among many local prominent families, often linked with the power of the papacy. In 1277, pope Niccolò III built the Passetto del Borgo (in Roman dialect, Er Coridore): an elevated passageway on the bastions, connecting the Apostolic Palace to the castle. It has been used at least twice by the popes, to flee to safety during attacks to the city. Today, it is possible to visit the Passetto during the day, while in the summer you can also book a stunning nighttime visit from 8 pm onward, but only on specific days.
The popes have always used the castle as a shelter in case of battles or armed clashes. In the late Middle Ages, the central building was partially adapted as a papal residency, as it was considered safer than the Vatican apartments. Among the artists who enriched the halls of the castle with frescoes, is the famous Pinturicchio. Almost every pope has made some sort of renovation to the castle, adapting it to its personal needs and taste. During the Renaissance, the pope built the pentagonal outer walls still surrounding the castle today.
When it was a Prison
The castle wasn’t just a fortress, contented by many for the control over the city, but it was a place of detention for a great number of notable prisoners. There were basically two categories of cells: the obscure and dark ones obtained by adapting the ancient rooms of the basement, and some in the upper levels, usually assigned to high-status prisoners. Some of those prisons are open to visitors.
One of the most infamous cells was called San Marocco (or Sammalò). Originally, this cell was one of the air ducts of the ancient central room where the Imperial funeral urns were kept. Basically, it was a deep, dark hole with no windows, where the prisoner was lowered, and it was so narrow and low that he had no chance of standing or lying down.
During the centuries, among the people that were forced to spend some time locked up in the castle, there were more than one high rank clergymen, sometimes betrayed and killed by opponents, or even by other members of their own family.
The Count of Cagliostro, an obscure and self-proclaimed alchemist, but also famous scammer, was captured while hiding in an hotel on the Spanish Steps, and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent the first three years of detention here.
In 1600, Giordano Bruno, accused of heresy, underwent, in the castle’s halls, the trial that condemned him to be burned at the stake in the square of Campo de’ Fiori (not far from Piazza Navona) where a statue of the philosopher still commemorates the event. Even the famous sculptor Benvenuto Cellini, the creator of art masterpieces, spent about one year in those cells.
But one of the creepiest events was the imprisonment of the young noblewoman Beatrice Cenci, who was accused of killing her abusing father and beheaded in 1599, at the age of 22. The execution stirred deep emotion among the population, who were against the pope’s decision, and her unfair execution made her a popular heroine, and symbol of the excessive power of the Vatican. The ghost of Beatrice is believed to appear every year, on September the 11th, walking back and forward on the bridge in front of the castle, holding her severed head in one hand. If you’d like to know more about the darkest secrets of Rome, you can have a look at our Ghost Walk Tour page.
The French Army Siege and the End of the Papal State
When you walk into the castle, you’ll soon realize that there is a particular focus on old armaments, which are well represented both in the outside spaces and in the museum halls of the complex. During the Napoleonic era, the castle was occupied by the French army. Then, in 1849, the newly proclaimed Republic of Rome was besieged and then, again, occupied by the French. They took possession of the Sant’Angelo Castle, and, after extensively bombing the town center, returned the command of the city to the pope. This only lasted until the Italian army arrived to Rome in 1870, defeating the French and Swiss armies protecting the pope, and annexing Rome to the Italian Republic. The Italian army took control of the castle, and the government installed military headquarters there.
The Legend (and Ups and Downs) of the Angel
At the top of the castle, you’ll see a bronze statue of the Archangel Michael, who is “responsible” for the permanent name change of the monument, that was once a pagan tribute to the Roman emperors. However, the statue you see today was not the first one to sit at the top of Castel Sant’Angelo, but, actually, the sixth in line!
In the year 590 AD, during some of the darkest times of the city, a terrible plague struck the citizens. Pope Gregory organized a solemn procession to beg God to put an end to that nightmare. When crossing the bridge in front of the castle, the pope had a vision of the Archangel Michael in the act of sheathing his sword. This was interpreted as a sign that the plague would have soon come to an end.
To celebrate the event, the pope ordered a wooden statue of the angel be built, and this was the first one that sat at the top of the monument. When the statue was completely ruined by wear, it was replaced with a marble one, which was destroyed during a siege, in 1379. The third angel (again, made of marble, with bronze wings) was hit by a lightning strike. The fourth one, made of bronze covered in gold, was fused to make cannons. The fifth in line is a marble statue with bronze wings. Even this one was replaced, and now it’s located inside the castle’s courtyard.
So, after this troubled story, who is the angel which surmounts the castle today? It’s a bronze statue made in 1753 by a Flemish artist called Peter Anton von Vershaffelt. This angel was restored about 30 years ago, hoping it will have better luck than the previous ones!
The Castle Today
The site is now a museum, and features different itineraries:
The outer walls, fortifications, passages and prisons.
The basement with the visible ruins of the ancient Hadrian’s mausoleum.
The papal apartments and halls.
A vast collection of statues, paintings, artifacts, and a large armory featuring weapons and ancient armors.
The terrace of the angel, where you’ll enjoy one of the most stunning views of the capital. Get your camera ready!
A visit to this site is fun and entertaining for the whole family. Under request, there is also an elevator available. You can visit the castle with a guide or on your own. It is recommended to book your tickets online.
Castel Sant'Angelo: Fast Track & Guided Tour
Castel Sant'Angelo: Fast Track & Guided Tour
Enjoy a guided tour of Castel Sant’Angelo without having to wait in the long queue. This monument was previously the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, a Papal fortress and also a prison! Explore the halls, admire the splendid murals and learn about one of Rome’s most famous landmarks. From the top, you will see jaw dropping views of the Eternal City. The ticket includes priority entrance and a headset, so that you can always hear the guide.
from € 49,00
Castel Sant’Angelo: Fast Track
Castel Sant’Angelo: Fast Track
Castel Sant'Angelo has been used for many different purposes over the centuries. It was built as a Mausoleum, providing a final resting place for Emperor Hadrian and his family. After that, it has been a prison and defense fortress. Today it is a museum. Atop Castel Sant'Angelo is a statue of the Archangel Michael. Skip the queue by buying your tickets online in advance. The Angel Bridge connects the castle across the Tiber with the other side of Rome.
Biden lands in France for D-Day anniversary, democracy speech
PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden landed in France on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on a trip designed to underscore his commitment to U.S. allies in Europe and contrast his vision of democracy with his 2024 political opponent Donald Trump.
Biden will spend five days in France and attend D-Day celebrations in Normandy, where U.S. and allied forces stormed French beaches in an attack that helped defeat Nazi Germany in World War II, as well as deliver a high-profile speech and hold a formal state visit with President Emmanuel Macron.
While in Normandy Biden will sit down for talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy about the war effort to repel Russian invaders, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard the presidential flight to Paris.
Biden's remarks in Normandy, both on Thursday at the formal 80th anniversary ceremony and on Friday at the famed Pointe du Hoc cliffs, will center around the dangers of isolationism and the need to stand up to dictators, Sullivan said.
Biden will draw a connection from World War Two through the Cold War and creation of the NATO alliance to today, "where we face once again war in Europe, where NATO has rallied to defend freedom and sovereignty."
In what promises to be an emotional moment, Biden will meet the aged veterans who participated in the D-Day invasion.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the potential use of some $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine would be discussed by Biden and Macron during the visit.
Item 1 of 7 U.S. President Joe Biden is greeted by honor guard as he arrives at Paris-Orly Airport, France June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
[1/7]U.S. President Joe Biden is greeted by honor guard as he arrives at Paris-Orly Airport, France June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Biden, a Democrat, is running for re-election in November against Trump, a Republican, and has made preserving and strengthening U.S. democracy a key part of his campaign in the aftermath of Trump's chaotic four years in office.
Trump refused to accept the results of the 2020 election, which sparked a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021; he has vowed to go after political opponents, deport immigrants and punish whistleblowers in a second term.
Trump has threatened to abandon NATO allies if they do not bolster their defense spending and some fear he would pull the United States out of the alliance altogether if he were elected president again.
Biden's message on democracy could be complicated by his staunch backing of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, after Hamas attacked Israel in October last year, killing over one thousand.
The International Criminal Court has charged Netanyahu with war crimes and some international allies and left-leaning voters in the United States want Biden to stop the flow of U.S. military aid to Israel. The issue could hurt Biden in key states, including Michigan, in the November election.
The D-Day commemorations are set against a backdrop of a modern conflict in Europe, Russia's more than 2-year war with Ukraine.
At a political fundraiser before his trip, Biden called the D-Day invasion "one of the most important moments in the history of defense of freedom and democracy in the history of the world" and said the sacrifices from that day must not be given up.
"Democracy is literally on the ballot this year. The future of democracy and freedom is at stake. We have brave soldiers who gave their lives on the beaches of Normandy who did their part," he told donors in Connecticut on Monday.
Get weekly news and analysis on U.S. politics and how it matters to the world with the Reuters Politics U.S. newsletter. Sign up here.
Reporting by Jeff Mason and Paris newsroom; additional reporting by Steve Holland, Eric Beech, Kanishka Singh, Katharine Jackson and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates and Michael Perry
Biden makes the case to fight extremists by invoking war waged on D-Day
Biden spoke one day after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, standing atop the sheer 100-foot cliff that Army Rangers scaled to destroy artillery and push back German forces that had overrun Europe in the Second World War.
President Joe Biden speaks Friday next to the Pointe du Hoc monument in Normandy, France.Evan Vucci / AP
POINTE DU HOC, France — Invoking the soldiers who braved Nazi fire on D-Day, President Joe Biden called upon Americans to put country first and not cast aside the democratic traditions that an earlier generation died to protect.
Biden spoke one day after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, standing atop the sheer 100-foot cliff that Army Rangers scaled to destroy artillery and push back German forces that had overrun Europe in the Second World War.
He drew a parallel between the sacrifices made to defeat Hitler’s forces and the struggle to overcome what he called the “hateful ideologies today,” an apparent reference to extremist movements at home and abroad.
Soldiers who strung rope ladders to climb the cliff in the face of enemy machine guns would have wanted Americans to show the selflessness needed today to preserve democratic freedoms, he said.
“American democracy asks the hardest of things: to believe that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves,” Biden said, standing atop a German bunker used to fire at troops who'd landed on Omaha Beach. “Democracy begins with each of us. It begins when one person decides there’s something more important than themselves. When they decide that their country matters more than they do. That’s what the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc decided.”
Despite Hitler’s defeat and America’s victory in the Cold War that followed, the battle for a free and independent Europe persists, Biden said. He pointed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, a democratic state and Western ally.
“Does anyone doubt that they [the soldiers who captured Pointe du Hoc] would want America to stand against Putin’s aggression here in Europe today?” he said, looking out at an audience that included Pfc John Wardell of New Jersey, a 99-year-old veteran who landed in France after D-Day in June 1944.
After the assault at the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc by the 2nd Ranger Battalion, German prisoners are gathered and an American flag is deployed for signaling in June 1944.Galerie Bilderwelt / Getty Images
Earlier in the day, Biden met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris. He announced a new $225 million aid package to Ukraine that includes air defense interceptors, artillery ammunition and other capabilities. He also issued an unusual apology to Zelenskyy over a months-long delay in aid deliveries stemming from partisan disagreement in Congress.
“You haven’t bowed down,” Biden told Zelenskyy. “You haven’t yielded at all. You continue to fight in way that’s just remarkable. And we’re not going to walk away from you.”
Describing the stakes in the same terms as Biden, Zelenskyy said: “Like it was during World War II, how the United States helped to save human lives, to save Europe — and we count on your continuing support and standing with us shoulder to shoulder," he said.
The two are scheduled to meet again next week in southern Italy during a summit meeting of the Group of 7 (G7), a collection of the wealthy democracies.
Though Biden framed his speech in Pointe du Hoc as a broad struggle between authoritarianism and democracy, freedom and repression, the campaign subtext was hard to miss.
Biden and his rival, Donald Trump, symbolize different strains in American foreign policy. Biden is an internationalist who believes that aligning with like-minded nations makes the U.S. more prosperous and formidable.
Trump’s “America First” approach is heir to an isolationist movement that has persisted through the decades. If Trump wins, former aides worry he might pull out of a NATO alliance that safeguards Europe from Russian aggression.
“They stormed the beaches alongside their allies,” Biden said of D-Day troops. “Does anyone believe these Rangers would want America to go it alone today?”
Polling shows that Biden’s age is one of the main obstacles to his reelection. Happily for him, he’s spent the past two days in the company of 90- and 100-somethings who make him look fresh-faced, by comparison.
Before giving a speech at Omaha Beach on Thursday, the 81-year-old president met with a group of veterans who were wheeled into see him by active service members.
“Don’t get old,” one advised Biden.
Another veteran in an Army jacket shook hands with Biden. When the man sat back down in his wheelchair, the president said, “Good move, man.”
Biden is set to hold meetings in Paris on Saturday with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. He’ll also take part in a parade procession to the Elysee Palace and, later, will attend a state dinner on his behalf.
There are signs that his son Hunter Biden's legal troubles have been a distraction. First Lady Jill Biden joined her husband for the D-Day speech on Thursday but later flew home to attend the criminal trial in Wilmington, Del. She was expected to rejoin Biden in Paris on Saturday for the state dinner.
Headlines about his son’s fate intrude on the president’s trip from time to time. Just as Biden began his speech at Pointe du Hoc, there was a fresh one: The prosecution in Hunter’s trial had rested its case.
Midnight in Paris is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in Paris, the film follows Gil Pender (Owen Wilson), a screenwriter and aspiring novelist, who is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his materialistic fiancée (Rachel McAdams) and their divergent goals, which become increasingly exaggerated as he travels back in time to the 1920s each night at midnight.[3]
In 2010, disillusioned screenwriter Gil Pender and his fiancée, Inez, vacation in Paris with Inez's wealthy parents. Gil, struggling to finish his debut novel about a man who works in a nostalgia shop, finds himself drawn to the artistic history of Paris, especially the Lost Generation of the 1920s, and has ambitions to move there, which Inez dismisses. By chance, they meet Inez's friend, Paul, and his wife, Carol. Paul speaks with great authority but questionable accuracy on French history, annoying Gil but impressing Inez.
Intoxicated after a night of wine tasting, Gil decides to walk back to their hotel, while Inez goes with Paul and Carol by taxi. At midnight, a 1920s car pulls up beside Gil and delivers him to a party for Jean Cocteau, attended by other people of the 1920s Paris art scene. Zelda Fitzgerald, bored, encourages her husband Scott and Gil to leave with her. They head to a cafe where they run into Ernest Hemingway and Juan Belmonte. After Zelda and Scott leave, Gil and Hemingway discuss writing, and Hemingway offers to show Gil's novel to Gertrude Stein. As Gil leaves to fetch his manuscript, he returns to 2010; the cafe is now a laundromat.
The next night, Gil tries to repeat the experience with Inez, but she leaves before midnight. Returning to the 1920s, Gil accompanies Hemingway to visit Gertrude Stein, who critiques Pablo Picasso's new painting of his lover Adriana. Gil becomes drawn to Adriana, a costume designer who also had affairs with Amedeo Modigliani and Georges Braque. Having heard the first line of Gil's novel, Adriana praises it and admits she has always longed for the past.
Gil continues to time travel the following nights. Inez grows jaded with Paris and Gil's constant disappearing, while her father grows suspicious and hires a private detective to follow him. Adriana leaves Picasso and continues to bond with Gil, who is conflicted by his attraction to her. Gil explains his situation to Salvador Dalí, Man Ray, and Luis Buñuel; as surrealists, they do not question his claim of coming from the future. Gil later suggests the plot of "The Exterminating Angel" to Buñuel.
While Inez and her parents travel to Mont Saint Michel, Gil meets Gabrielle, an antique dealer and fellow admirer of the Lost Generation. He later finds Adriana's diary at a book stall, which reveals that she was in love with Gil and dreamed of being gifted earrings before making love to him. To seduce Adriana, Gil tries to steal a pair of Inez's earrings but is thwarted by her early return to the hotel room.
Gil buys new earrings and returns to the past. After he gives Adriana the earrings, a horse-drawn carriage arrives, transporting them to the Belle Époque, an era Adriana considers Paris's Golden Age, they go to the Moulin Rouge where they meet Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin, and Edgar Degas, who all agree that Paris's best era was the Renaissance. Adriana is offered a job designing ballet costumes; thrilled, she proposes to Gil that they stay, but he, observing the unhappiness of Adriana and the other artists, realizes that chasing nostalgia is fruitless because the present is always "a little unsatisfying." Adriana decides to stay, and they part ways.
Gil rewrites the first two chapters of his novel. He retrieves his draft from Stein, who praises his rewrite. Still, he says that on reading the new chapters, Hemingway does not believe that the protagonist does not realize that his fiancée, based on Inez, is having an affair with the character based on Paul. Gil returns to 2010 and confronts Inez, who admits to sleeping with Paul but disregards it as a meaningless fling. Gil breaks up with her and decides to move to Paris. The detective following him takes a "wrong turn" and ends up being chased by the palace guards of Louis XVI just before a revolution breaks out. While walking by the Seine at midnight, Gil encounters Gabrielle. As it begins to rain, he offers to walk her home and learns that they share a love for Paris in the rain.
Tema anterior
_-_(Paris_VIII,_FR75)_-_02-12-2023_2.jpg)
