It’s private
REBECCA ZLOTOWSKI • director
WORK • Friday Routine
REBECCA ZLOTOWSKI • director
Neighborhood you work in: 5th arr
Neighborhood you live in: 10th arr
It’s Friday afternoon. How are you rolling into the weekend?
France has this tradition of the author-director that we stick to, so sadly (or fortunately) depending on the mood, no Friday looks like any other. Also, all writers know they never really stop working, even on their days off. When I’m in the process of writing a film, I spend my days in my small office in the 5th, surrounded by a garden that makes it feel so special in Paris. I read, write, talk, smoke cigarettes, sleep in the afternoon, then jump on my bicycle to pick up my four-year-old from school around 6. I listen to a podcast while cycling, cross the Seine, and join the gang.
Fridays are also when my stepdaughter comes back for our week. It feels like a party: She’s 10, and we all have a movie night together. And to be specific: I roll into the end of the day with a glass of red wine. I’m a living French cliché.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I’m releasing my latest film in a few days and shooting a TV series at the same time. So I’m texting all day and night with my co-director, editing what has already been shot, and prepping the release of Vie Privée in France on the other days. I’m currently on my way to Aix-en-Provence for a premiere of the film tonight. But don’t get me wrong, this is clearly a hectic moment. Usually my life looks more like unemployment (see answer number 1).
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Yesterday was a free day. We celebrated my father-in-law’s birthday at Hôtel Amour in the 9th, then I took my kid to the Jardin du Luxembourg for a ride on the carousel and some fun at the Luco park. Walking those alleys, especially in autumn, makes me feel blessed to live in Paris.
I know I’ll spend the weekend at my fav restaurants and spots on my street, rue Martel, Kamo for amazing tapas, Le Martel for couscous, Madame Gen for a drink, Chez Marie for lunch. You have it all on one block. Perfect for the laziest person in town: me.
How about a little leisure or culture?
The best art dealer in town: the hidden gem Galerie Bazar, where Joséphine Guerrin has just opened this affordable, cutting-edge place full of great artwork from rising artists. I also love the secret spot Out of the Blue, where you’ll find drinks, food, and a hidden little cinema downstairs with an amazing program curated by Chloé Bourges.
Any weekend getaways?
La Bastide de Moustiers is the best getaway: good food, good wine, lost in an amazing landscape, just two hours from Paris and close to les Gorges du Verdon! Romantic and quiet. It’s only open seasonally, so you’ll have to wait until spring, but trust me, it’s worth it. And the restaurant by Alain Ducasse has both a Michelin star and a Michelin Green Star.
What was your last great vacation?
The Italian Alps, Hotel Bellevue, in Cogne. Snow, landscapes, raclette, cute outfits and uniforms for everyone in the hotel, an amazing spa and a kids’ paradise.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Best gifts at Astier de Villatte! Everything’s precious, beautiful, fun, and you can spend 10 euros or a million, depending on your mood and your bank account.
Where are you donating your time or money?
Les Guerrières de la Paix, women fighting for justice and peace in the Middle East, we all need this. And Viens Voir Mon Taf, a place where kids without any social network can discover mentors and jobs they wouldn’t know existed, and concretely find internships. I believe in these local, smart initiatives that bring more social justice.