NATCHEZ &045; Two Concordia Parish French teachers and a Natchez businesswoman are organizing a French culture club that will meet for the first time Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Natchez Visitor Center theater, 640 S. Canal St.

Kathryn McCabe Killelea and Vincent and Mira Joos will host a program that will feature the airing of a French classical movie, &uot;Manon of the Spring,&uot; preceded by a discussion of future activities of the proposed club.

&uot;This will be just an introduction to see if there is an interest in the Miss-Lou French Club,&uot; said Killelea, owner with her husband, Edward, of Different Accents and other business ventures. &uot;I know there have been people who wanted to start a film club. I think there’s an interest in French culture and also in film.&uot;

The club will offer a forum &uot;to talk about intellectual issues,&uot; Killelea said. &uot;I think there are people here who are interested in exploring the larger world, life and important issues.&uot;

Movies provide a starting point for discussions, she said. &uot;This will be not only intellectually stimulating; it will provide entertainment.&uot;

Mira Joos said French movies are available through the French consulate in New Orleans. The opportunity to call on that video library precludes the expense of property rights for showing the films.

Further, Mira said, she and her husband have met many people in the area who are interested in French culture. &uot;We’ve met a lot of Francophiles in Natchez. We suppose there is a big audience,&uot; she said. &uot;There are a lot of people who are very cultivated, but there are not a lot of cultural events.&uot;

The Visitor Center theater will seat 75, and the organizers hope the auditorium is full. &uot;This is not a money maker. It’s free,&uot; Killelea said. &uot;We’re trying to create this arena for greater artistic and intellectual growth.&uot;

Vincent and Mira Joos taught in Switzerland and Sweden before taking advantage of the opportunity to come to Louisiana to teach.

&uot;We were curious to discover America and Louisiana,&uot; Vincent Joos said. &uot;We love to travel.&uot;

Vincent also is a writer, contributing regularly to the German arts magazine Dausend Augen, for which he primarily analyzes classic films.

Both husband and wife have had experience organizing film festivals. &uot;We have a certain experience in organizing conferences and cinema events,&uot; she said.

The movie to be aired Saturday is a popular one in France, Vincent said. &uot;There are marvelous landscapes. And the actors are well known.&uot; Actors include Yves Montand, Daniel Auteuil and Emmanuelle Beart.

Killelea said once the group is organized and sets some direction, the club may branch out into other areas.

&uot;First, we need to have the support of the community. Without that, Natchez cannot go forward,&uot; she said. &uot;Once we get feedback, that will give us direction.&uot;

Natchez is a hidden gem, Killelea said. Adding a new layer of intellectual opportunity is a way of attracting more people to the city.

&uot;Natchez needs more cultural exposure,&uot; she said. And the Miss-Lou French Club will provide that.

&uot;Vincent and Mira are people who just step out and do things. For them, there’s no obstacle, only opportunity.&uot;