- Wednesday 12 March 2008
6.30pm–7.30pm, followed by a film at 8.30pm.
With the flowers blooming and birds singing, our scientific fancy is turning to love. In collaboration with the French Embassy, we'll be investigating just what that slushy, fizzy feeling means scientifically. Why do we fall for the people we do? Is it all about pretty faces or personalities - or do we just go for the ones who remind us of our parents? Dave Perrett is a professor of psychology in St Andrews who studies attractiveness and mate choice, and he'll be on hand to give us the details on where our romantic choices spring from. Lucy Vincent, a neurobiologist at the French Centre nationale de la recherche scientifique, knows all about the synaptic sparks that go off when we fall in love. What's happening in the brain when we love someone - and what about when we break up? Can science offer us any tips on winning someone over and staying together? And does all this scientific talk about love spoil the magic? Come see our speakers (across a crowded room) and find out for yourself!
Film screening:This evening comes in two parts: after the talk, the Ciné Lumière will be showing a film specially chosen to tie in with our topic. Shall we kiss? (Un baiser s'il vous plait) starts and ends in Nantes, where Gabriel (Michael Cohen) gives a lift to Emilie (Julie Gayet), down from Paris on business. As the two speak in the car, an attraction forms - despite the fact each has a partner - and they end up having a romantic dinner.
At the end of the evening Emilie refuses to give Gabriel a farewell kiss. Why? Because a single kiss can change your life, she says, however innocently intended. And to prove her point, she tells Gabriel a story, set in Paris, that takes up the rest of the film.
She stresses her story is not her own in disguise but relates to best friends Nicolas Gimas (Mouret), a teacher, and Judith (Virginie Ledoyen), a lab researcher married to a rich pharmacist, Claudio (Stefano Accorsi). Each regularly confides in the other, and Nicolas confesses he lacks "physical affection" in his relationships with women.
Judith suggests seeing a hooker about the problem, and Nicolas confesses he already saw one (Marie Madinier) earlier in the day; but, as she wouldn't allow kissing, it was to no effect. Embarrassed, Nicolas asks if Judith herself would help him and out of friendship, she agrees.
Venue: Ciné Lumière, Institut Français Cultural Centre, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT
Booking: This event includes both a talk and a film. Tickets for only the talk or film cost £7/£5 Ri Members and concessions. Tickets for the entire evening cost £9/£7 Ri Members and concessions. Tickets will be available from mid-February and can be booked by contacting the Ciné Lumière on 020 7073 1350 or box.office@ambafrance.org.uk
In association with the French Embassy.