Journeys Through French Cinema (8-part series)
Writer-director Bertrand Tavernier is truly one of the grand auteurs of the movies. In this new eight-part series, the acclaimed director guides us through a roster of filmmakers both influential and forgotten, explores how his country’s cinema was shaped by the German occupation and changed again through the New Wave, spotlights little-known female filmmakers, and more. Subjects include: René Clément, Henri-Georges Clouzot, Julien Duvivier, Henri Decoin, Claude Autant-Lara, as well as composers who made movie music an art in and of itself, far from the Hollywood spotlight.
Episode 1 - My Go-To Filmmakers Part 1
Bertrand Tavernier discusses the directors who have both influenced him personally and impacted French Cinema: Max Ophuls, Jean Grémillon and Henri Decoin.
Episode 2 - My Go-To Filmmakers Part 2
In part two, Tavernier explores the format and thematic approaches of Sacha Guitry, Marcel Pagnol, Jacques Tati, and Robert Bresson.
Episode 3 - Les Chansons, Julien Duvivier
Tavernier dissects the importance of music in French Cinema with palpable enthusiasm. He treats us to a feast of joyous clips from beloved classics like Agnès Varda's CLEO FROM 5 TO 9, Louis Malle's VIVA MARIA!, and Jacques Demy's THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT, before honing in to focus on prolific director Julien Duvivier.
Episode 4 - Under German Occupation
Tavernier explores the ways in which French Cinema was enriched by foreign talent as many directors were forced to leave their native countries and settle in France. Filmmakers discussed include Viktor Tourjanski, Robert Siodmak, and André Cayatte.
Episode 5 - Occupation to New Wave
As a postscript to his survey of moviemaking in occupied France, Tavernier takes a deep dive into how that period of history impacted films by three essential directors - Claude Autant-Lara, René Clément, and Henri-Georges Clouzet - all the way through their post WWII work.
Episode 6 - The Forgotten Ones
In seeking to upgrade his own outmoded perspective on several filmmakers such as Raymond Bernard, Maurice Tourneur, Anatole Litvak, René Clair, and Jean Boyer, Tavernier credits critic/programmer Patrick Brion and other writers for championing directors who, decades after their heyday, were finally restored to the respect they deserve.
Episode 7 - Underrated Directors
Tavernier continues to spotlight director names that might be unfamiliar even to ardent film buffs and unveils glorious restored footage from one of France's first-ever color films, 1936's LA TERRE QUI MEURT.
Episode 8 - My Sixties
Tavernier recounts firsthand experiences from his 10 rewarding years as a press attache to and with legendary producer and publicist Pierre Rissient.