Lise's Lens: April 2, 2026

4/1/2026

I went on a bit of a deep dive into Francophone art and literature over the Spring Break, indulging in some historical fiction like La Maison vide, and Les Rayons et les Ombres. If you like French history and culture, this entry is for you!

WHAT I'M READING

La Maison vide, by Laurent Mauvignier

During our Spring Break I indulged myself by reading the 2025 winner of the Prix Goncourt, La Maison vide, by Laurent Mauvignier. I had to save it for the break because the novel, which follows a family over three generations, is over 700 pages long! The novel was given to me by a relative who, like me, was born in Haiti, and for whom my family house in Port-au-Prince, had so much meaning. I talk to friends and family a lot about our family house, which I sadly have not visited for close to 10 years. La Maison vide (The Empty House), begins when in 1976, a man returns to his family’s house which has been shut for 20 years. It’s really the story of three generations of women as well, and about rural France. The details of the location, emotions, movement — everything, are outstanding. It also gave me some great insight into how news used to be received and processed in small towns, before any era of rapid communication. I’m grateful to Mauvignier for this work.

WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT

How We Consider History

In reading La Maison vide and watching Les Rayons et les Ombres (see below), I’m reminded of the importance of understanding history and the events that shape it through the perspectives of those who lived it. For example, imagine living in a small town in France and suddenly receiving a decree to report to the “station” and set off for war, with little understanding beyond the fact that you are to fight the Germans, again and again throughout your life. When you think this way, it becomes easier to understand why, by the third call, someone might simply say, I give up! I’m just going to stay in my village, and comply with the invader because I have no more energy to fight. I don’t know my leaders, and anyhow, why do they call me up for war in the middle of the harvest? Seen in this light, history becomes more complex and more human.

WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO

Les Rayons et les Ombres

Since I was in France and on the French theme during the Break, I also went to the movies where I saw Les Rayons et les Ombres, directed by Xavier Giannoli. The three main characters are based on true people: Jean Luchaire, a journalist and later considered a “Collaborateur” (played by Jean du Jardin); his daughter, a budding and not-so-great actress, Corinne Luchaire (played by Nastya Goubeva); and artist Otto Abetz (played by August Diehl) who later becomes German Ambassador to France during the Nazi occupation. Their performances were outstanding! This takes place mostly in France, and it begins with a post WWII moment when Corinne Luchaire is recognized on the street, accosted and attacked because of her collaboration with the Nazis. From that scene on, you slowly get drawn into her story in a three hour long movie.

Facing widespread hostility, Corrinne is condemned to 10 years of separation from society, forcing her to live with her daughter in relative seclusion. The film ends when she receives a friendly visit from Léonide Moguy, a Jewish filmmaker originally from Ukraine, with whom she worked before the war. When she asks him about his sister, he tells her that she died in a concentration camp, and Corinne whispers, "Sorry, I didn't know." To which Moguy replies, "Did you try to find out?" And to me, THAT is the question: what do we try to find out? What do we ask questions about? And what do we prefer to be ignorant about?

WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE

We welcomed hundreds of visitors to CSW as part of our campus Revisit Days for recently accepted students this week! Here’s a shot of folks enjoying our Academic Department and Activities Fair in the Fit. Many thanks to all who involved in making this a fantastic experience for our new community members!

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