Residents vs. Revellers as Paris Nightlife Swells

The battle raging on Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Denis, a shabby Paris street where hip bars are sprouting up like mushrooms, is part of a wider war in the city pitching sleep-starved residents against nocturnal revellers.

Published

8 months ago

Categories

Lifestyle

Topics

Europe

Places

France, Paris

Tags

nightlife

Transcript

SCRIPT: It's one of the most historic streets in Paris...but the rue du Faubourg St Denis is also a sign of how times are changing. The multicultural eateries and traditional Parisian cafes are closing down...only to reopen as trendy bars and hip restaurants. Proof that Paris is a young, dynamic city, say supporters. Locals aren't impressed. SOUNDBITE, Vianney Delourme, Former local resident (French, 16 sec): "It's just impossible to live in the street – impossible. The cafés set the law round here, and the mayor is either indifferent or incompetent. It really is just incredible. You wouldn't believe all the people out drinking and yelling till three in the morning. The police couldn't care less, and the mayor doesn't enforce the law." SOUNDBITE, Fleur Lacarelle, Local resident (French, 14 sec): "For locals, when it's every night – and when I say every night, I really mean every night, year-round – it gets to the point where we can't open our windows, it stops my kids sleeping...it's been a huge upheaval. We feel like this is no longer home." It's a story that's played out several times already in Paris. Working-class residents have been priced out of town, and cafe-owners have been driven to attract a more cosmopolitan crowd. For local authorities, though, it's a process that benefits everyone -- even those filing complaints. SOUNDBITE, Remi Feraud, Mayor of 10th arrondissement (French, 27 sec): "It's sometimes the same people who go out partying somewhere else, making lots of noise, who don't want anyone coming and partying in their own street. The reality of Paris is that it's a city which is evolving quickly, where districts can change very quickly and very abruptly, and that's a phenomenon created by the very dynamic of Paris itself – but when it happens in their own area, people don't necessarily like it." Bar-owners here, who have seen their profits skyrocket, maintain they're doing what they can to keep the neighbours on-side. SOUNDBITE, William Mercier, Manager, Chez Jeanette (French, 18 sec): "I have two doormen in the evenings to try and control people so there's not too much noise and so people don't go on the road. We've also installed noise insulation so people aren't disturbed by the music...so we're trying to establish dialogue and be open." But for sleepless locals, that's just lip service. This home video footage, shot by one resident at two in the morning, shows just how cafes can colonise the pavements. Facebook campaigns and local petitions have been launched to try and raise awareness of the problem. But for many observers, it's just the growing pains of a city that's embracing a new identity as a nightlife capital. SHOTLIST PARIS, 25-28 Sep 2012 SOURCE: AFPTV -WIDE DAY of rue du Faubourg St Denis seen from balcony -MID of Porte St-Denis -MID of shops with closed shutters -WIDE NIGHT of cafe-bar with tables on pavement -MID waiter serving drinks -CRASH ZOOM OUT on neon sign -MCU women drinking -SOUNDBITE -SOUNDBITE -MID accordeon player -PAN traffic in street to bar front -MID of mayor working in office -WIDE of mayor's office -SOUNDBITE -MCU bar manager gesticulating at camera -WIDE of Chez Jeannette -SOUNDBITE -HOME VIDEO FOOTAGE of drinkers outside Chez Jeannette -PULL FOCUS neon sign -CU wing mirror showing neon with street in background