Welcome ,

     Hello! For our eTwinning project, we are looking at    something really interesting: people from France who went to live in Odesa, Ukraine, and people from Odesa who came to live in France.

Odesa is a cool city in Ukraine, and France is where we live. Both places have their own amazing culture. We wanted to find out about famous people who moved between these two countries.

We will discover stories of French people who found a new home in Odesa and shared their ideas there. We will also learn about people from Odesa who came to France and brought their culture with them.

This ebook is like a journey to see how people can connect different places. We hope you enjoy learning about these special people and how they helped bring France and Odesa closer together!

                 Famous Ukrainians in France

For centuries, France and Ukraine have shared a deep cultural and historical connection. Artists, scientists, writers, and musicians from Ukraine have found inspiration and recognition in France, contributing to its rich cultural tapestry. These exchanges reflect a bond built on mutual respect, creativity, and the desire to build bridges between nations. This section highlights some of the most inspiring Ukrainians who have left a mark on French culture, reminding us that art and talent know no borders.

                                     Serge Lifar  : 

        The Star of Odesa Who  Illuminated Paris.

Born in the cultural vibrancy of Odesa, Serge Lifar (1905-1986) journeyed across Europe to become one of the most emblematic figures of 20th-century dance in France. Arriving in Paris in 1923, his exceptional talent and innovative vision quickly made him a star of the Paris Opera Ballet, where he also served as director. His contribution to modern choreography and his stage presence profoundly marked the history of French dance, turning this child of Odesa into a Parisian legend.

                                         Sandro Fasini: 

The Artist from Odesa at the Heart of the School of Paris

   Alexandre Faïzilberg, known as Sandro Fasini (1892/93-1942/44), left his hometown of Odesa to immerse himself in the artistic ferment of Paris in the early 1920s. Brother of the writer Ilya Ilf, Fasini found his place within the School of Paris, an eclectic and innovative artistic movement. His work as a painter, photographer, and decorator reflects a unique artistic sensibility, tragically cut short by World War II. His journey illustrates the cultural and human connections between Odesa and France during a period of intense creativity.

                                      Philippe Hosiasson: 

               From Odesa to Parisian Abstraction.

The painter Philippe Hosiasson (1898-1978) was born in Odesa, a city at the crossroads of cultures. In 1924, he chose Paris as his new artistic home, gradually integrating into the French art scene. After a figurative period, his work evolved towards abstraction after 1947, placing him among the important figures of this movement in France. His trajectory demonstrates an openness to influences and an artistic quest that led him from Odesa to Parisian galleries and as far as New York.

          The Polnareff Family: From Odesa Roots to French Song

While Michel Polnareff is a French singing icon born in France, his roots lie in the soil of Odesa. His father, Leib Polnareff (born in Odesa), was a talented musician who even wrote for the legendary Édith Piaf before his son achieved fame. The family's emigration from Odesa to France in 1923 marked the beginning of a new story, where the musical heritage of Odesa indirectly contributed to shaping the French soundscape.

FAMOUS FRENCH IN THE HISTORY OF ODESA

                          GYMNASIUM 19

                      les franÇais À odessa

Tout homme a deux pays, le sien et puis la                         France. Henri de Bornier

Alexandre-Louis Andrault de Langeron (1763-1831) was a French general who served in the russian imperial army, and his connection to Odesa is significant. He was a key figure in the city's development during the early 19th century.