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Claude Lelouch Biography

Birth Name:Claude Barruck Joseph Lelouch

Birth Place:Paris, France

Profession Director, Writer, Producer, Camera department, Actor, Cinematographer, Editor

Fast Facts

  • In 1971, he received the David di Donatello Award, given each year by the Academy of Italian Cinema, for his film "Le Voyou"
  • His 1966 film "A Man and A Woman" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival the same year
  • Began his love of filmmaking after being given a camera by his father after he realized his son had grown depressed after not being able to pass his baccalaureat examination as a teen
  • Quote: "I speak much better about what I know․ In all my films I always speak of my personal experiences․ I am the guinea pig of my films in a way․ I test the stories before I make them a bit․․․Life is the most impressive screenwriter, life comes up with thins that I would never come up with․"
  • Got his start as an undercover camera operator in the U․S․S․R․ filming everyday activities of Soviet citizens, which authorities did not allow at the time
  • Often collaborates with internationally-known composer, Francis Lai
  • Often known for reusing footage from other projects for some of his more low-budget films, a technique he was forced to enact in the earliest days of his career
  • Was reportedly arrested after a high-speed car chase first aired in his 1976 film, "C'etait un rendez-vous", later admitting to authorities that he had dubbed over the scene with the sound of a revved up Italian sports car

Awards

  • 1964Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 1965Best Director-: winner
  • 1965Best Film-International Competition: nominated
  • 1966Palme d'Or-: winner
  • 1966OCIC Award-: winner
  • 1967Oscar-Best Director: nominated
  • 1967Oscar-Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen: winner
  • 1967Blue Ribbon Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
  • 1967DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 1967Golden Globe-Best Director: nominated
  • 1967Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero): winner
  • 1968BAFTA Film Award-Best Film from any Source: nominated
  • 1968Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
  • 1968Best Film-International Competition: nominated
  • 1969Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
  • 1971David-Best Foreign Director (Migliore Regista Straniero): winner
  • 1975LAFCA Award-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 1976Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1981Palme d'Or-: nominated
  • 1982César-Best Film (Meilleur film): nominated
  • 1984Gold Hugo-Best Feature: nominated
  • 1985Gold Hugo-Best Feature: nominated
  • 1989Gold Hugo-Best Feature: nominated
  • 1990Gold Hugo-Best Feature: nominated
  • 1990Golden Lion-Best Film: nominated
  • 1993Best Director-: winner
  • 1995Audience Choice Award-Gold Plaque: winner
  • 1996BAFTA Film Award-Best Film not in the English Language: nominated
  • 1996Gold Hugo-Best Feature: nominated
  • 1996Little Golden Lion-: winner
  • 1996Golden Lion-: nominated
  • 2000Gold Hugo-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2002UNESCO Award-: winner
  • 2003César-Best European Union Film (Meilleur film de l'Union Européenne): nominated
  • 2009Top Film-Top 10 Key Films of the Noughties: winner
  • 2014Audience Choice Award-Audience Choice Award: nominated
  • 2019Le Prix TV5Monde-Best French Language Film: nominated