In 1975, Milan and Vera Kundera left Czechoslovakia for France and settled in Rennes. While teaching cinema at Rennes 2 University, Milan Kundera used his exile to deepen his reflections on aesthetics, Europe, and the relationships between literature, existence, politics, and history.
A year after the author’s passing, in partnership with the University of Rennes, Masaryk University, and many local collaborators, Rennes 2 honors this major figure of contemporary literature, European thought, exile, and the theme of love. A variety of events will take place at the Villejean campus, encompassing literary research, cinema, and visual arts through talks, conferences, a study day, an exhibition, a musical performance, and a film screening. The official naming of an amphitheater after Milan Kundera will commemorate this shared European history at Rennes 2.
All events are free and open to all, except for the Ciné-Tambour screening (membership fee of €5 at the venue).
Wednesday, November 20
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
Visit to the exhibition of Kundera’s graphic works (25 drawings) "‘Nous avons tous besoin que quelqu'un nous regarde" (We All Need Someone to Watch Us) and audiovisual archives at La Chambre claire.
Exhibition open until December 13.
Participants:
- Laurence Fontaine, Vice President of Culture, University of Rennes
- Baptiste Brun, Vice President of Culture, Rennes 2 University
- Tomáš Kubíček, Director, Moravian Regional Library
- Sarah Dessaint, Cultural Service Head, Rennes 2 University
6:15 PM - 8:00 PM
Ciné-Tambour: Screening of Kundera’s interview in Pleine Page (1976, 1’30”) followed by The Joke (La Plaisanterie, 1968, 60’20”) at Le Tambour.
Introduction and moderation: Ciné-Tambour students
Membership fee: €5
Thursday, November 21
All-day access: Selection of Milan Kundera interviews at the Music Library (Building O).
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Session 1: "An Overview of Kundera" (Amphi B8)
Speakers:
- Ondřej Sládek (Masaryk University)
- Marcela Poučová (Masaryk University)
Introduction and moderation:
- Edwige Fusaro, VP International Affairs, Rennes 2 University
- Sébastien Le Picard, VP for European and International Strategy, University of Rennes
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Bohemian Rhapsody. BU Centrale, Agora (1st Floor)
Performers:
- Mattéo Duval (reading)
- Solène Spiers (musical composition, cello)
Coordination:
- Alexandre Rubin, Composer and Teacher, Rennes Conservatory and Rennes 2 Music Department
Introduction:
- Myriam Guillevic, Assistant Director, UFR Languages, Rennes 2 University
- Catherine Pascal, Cultural Activities Manager, Rennes 2 Library
2:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Session 2: "Kundera as a Comparative Literature Scholar" (Amphi B8)
Speakers:
- Dimitri Garncarzyk (University of Perpignan)
- Barbara Servant (Rennes 2 University)
- Hélène Baty-Delalande (Rennes 2 University)
Moderation: Esther Pinon, Deputy Director, CELLAM, Rennes 2 University
Scientific Introduction: Audrey Giboux, Member of Phi Group, CELLAM, Rennes 2
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
Roundtable: "Kundera as Professor of Comparative Literature at Rennes 2" (Amphi B8)
Participants:
- Anna Labedzka, Former Comparative Literature Teacher at Rennes 2
- Dominique Sineux, Doctoral Student, CELLAM, and Former Student of Kundera
- Georges Guitton, Journalist at Ouest-France and Author of Rennes, from Céline to Kundera
Moderation: Guillaume Beys-Salvan and Louane Vattier, Master’s Students in General and Comparative Literature
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
In Search of Milan Kundera: Talk with Ariane Chemin, Author and Journalist, Le Monde. BU Centrale, Agora (1st Floor)
Moderation: Charline Pluvinet and Barbara Servant (CELLAM, Rennes 2 University)
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Amphitheater Naming Ceremony and Screening of Viviane Forrester’s Film Milan Kundera (1976) (Amphi B3, short INA film, 26’).
Participants:
- David Alis, President, University of Rennes
- Vincent Gouëset, President, Rennes 2 University
- Anabel Marie, Municipal Councilor for Europe, Rennes
- Christelle Molina, Director, INA
