Leos Carax
Encyclopedia
Leos Carax is a French-born film director
, critic, and writer. Carax is noted for his poetic style and his tortured depictions of love. His first major work was Boy Meets Girl
(1984), and his notable works include Lovers on the Bridge (1991) and the controversial Pola X
(1999). His professional name is an anagram of his first and middle names.
, Hauts-de-Seine
, a commune in the suburbs of Paris, France. His mother was American and his father French. He began his film career with a series of short films, and as a film critic, before he released Boy Meets Girl
(1984). That piece established Carax's reputation for a mature visual style. It also saw the first grouping of Carax with Denis Lavant
and cinematographer
Jean-Yves Escoffier
. He followed the piece with the science fiction themed Bad Blood in 1986, which alienated some of his audience, but the work continued to explore the complexities of love in the modern world, this time through a darker, more criminal viewpoint. The work was clearly an homage to French New Wave
cinema, and his use of such actresses as Juliette Binoche
proved a touching tribute to his influences, especially Jean-Luc Godard
. The film was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival
Five years later, Carax returned to directing with Lovers on the Bridge, which proved to be an expensive undertaking as Parisian authorities granted him only 10 days in which he could film on Pont Neuf
. His initial reaction to the problems of filming on a public bridge had been to construct a model of the bridge in the community of Lansargues
, in Southern France
. However, on the first day of filming Denis Lavant
injured his thumb severely, which pushed the movie by a month. Subsequent financial difficulties pushed filming over a much longer period than intended. The movie was released to critical acclaim and opened the door for Carax to enter more experimental waters with his fourth feature, Pola X
. That film, released in 1999, was an adaptation of Herman Melville
's tale of incest, Pierre: or, The Ambiguities
.
Carax is now working on a new film, titled Holly Motors
and starring his regular collaborator, Denis Levant.
Actor
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, critic, and writer. Carax is noted for his poetic style and his tortured depictions of love. His first major work was Boy Meets Girl
Boy Meets Girl (1984 film)
Boy Meets Girl is a 1984 French drama film written and directed by Leos Carax, starring Denis Lavant and Mireille Perrier. It was Carax' first feature film...
(1984), and his notable works include Lovers on the Bridge (1991) and the controversial Pola X
Pola X
Pola X is a 1999 French romantic drama film starring Guillaume Depardieu, Yekaterina Golubeva and Catherine Deneuve. The film is loosely based on the Herman Melville novel Pierre: or, The Ambiguities. It revolves around a successful young novelist who is confronted by a woman who claims to be his...
(1999). His professional name is an anagram of his first and middle names.
Career
Leos Carax was born Alexandre Oscar Dupont in SuresnesSuresnes
Suresnes is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. The nearest communes are Neuilly-sur-Seine, Puteaux, Rueil-Malmaison, Saint-Cloud and Boulogne-Billancourt...
, Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
, a commune in the suburbs of Paris, France. His mother was American and his father French. He began his film career with a series of short films, and as a film critic, before he released Boy Meets Girl
Boy Meets Girl (1984 film)
Boy Meets Girl is a 1984 French drama film written and directed by Leos Carax, starring Denis Lavant and Mireille Perrier. It was Carax' first feature film...
(1984). That piece established Carax's reputation for a mature visual style. It also saw the first grouping of Carax with Denis Lavant
Denis Lavant
Denis Lavant is a French film actor known for his distinctive face and the physically demanding aspects of the roles he plays, which often involve slapstick, acrobatics or dance, as well as for his long-standing association with director Leos Carax...
and cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
Jean-Yves Escoffier
Jean-Yves Escoffier
Jean-Yves Escoffier, is a french cinematographer who worked with Mehdi Norowzian, Jeanne Moreau for Air France, David Lynch for Nissan, and on music videos, 'Hurt' for Johnny Cash and Mark Romanek....
. He followed the piece with the science fiction themed Bad Blood in 1986, which alienated some of his audience, but the work continued to explore the complexities of love in the modern world, this time through a darker, more criminal viewpoint. The work was clearly an homage to French New Wave
French New Wave
The New Wave was a blanket term coined by critics for a group of French filmmakers of the late 1950s and 1960s, influenced by Italian Neorealism and classical Hollywood cinema. Although never a formally organized movement, the New Wave filmmakers were linked by their self-conscious rejection of...
cinema, and his use of such actresses as Juliette Binoche
Juliette Binoche
Juliette Binoche is a French actress, artist and dancer. She has appeared in more than 40 feature films, been recipient of numerous international accolades, is a published author and has appeared on stage across the world. Coming from an artistic background, she began taking acting lessons during...
proved a touching tribute to his influences, especially Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
. The film was entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival
37th Berlin International Film Festival
The 37th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 20 February to 3 March 1987.-Jury:* Klaus Maria Brandauer * Juliet Berto* Kathleen Carroll* Callisto Cosulich* Victor Dyomin* Reinhard Hauff* Edmund Luft* Jiří Menzel...
Five years later, Carax returned to directing with Lovers on the Bridge, which proved to be an expensive undertaking as Parisian authorities granted him only 10 days in which he could film on Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf
The Pont Neuf is, despite its name, the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. Its name, which was given to distinguish it from older bridges that were lined on both sides with houses, has remained....
. His initial reaction to the problems of filming on a public bridge had been to construct a model of the bridge in the community of Lansargues
Lansargues
Lansargues is a commune in the Hérault département in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
, in Southern France
Southern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
. However, on the first day of filming Denis Lavant
Denis Lavant
Denis Lavant is a French film actor known for his distinctive face and the physically demanding aspects of the roles he plays, which often involve slapstick, acrobatics or dance, as well as for his long-standing association with director Leos Carax...
injured his thumb severely, which pushed the movie by a month. Subsequent financial difficulties pushed filming over a much longer period than intended. The movie was released to critical acclaim and opened the door for Carax to enter more experimental waters with his fourth feature, Pola X
Pola X
Pola X is a 1999 French romantic drama film starring Guillaume Depardieu, Yekaterina Golubeva and Catherine Deneuve. The film is loosely based on the Herman Melville novel Pierre: or, The Ambiguities. It revolves around a successful young novelist who is confronted by a woman who claims to be his...
. That film, released in 1999, was an adaptation of Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
's tale of incest, Pierre: or, The Ambiguities
Pierre: or, The Ambiguities
Pierre: or, The Ambiguities is a novel written by Herman Melville, and published in 1852 by Harper & Brothers.The publication of Pierre was a critical and financial disaster for Melville. It was universally condemned for both its morals and its style...
.
Carax is now working on a new film, titled Holly Motors
Holly Motors
Holly Motors is an upcoming French film written and directed by Leos Carax. It will star Denis Lavant as a man who travels between multiple parallel lives...
and starring his regular collaborator, Denis Levant.
Selected filmography
Director- Strangulation Blues (1980) - Short
- Boy Meets GirlBoy Meets Girl (1984 film)Boy Meets Girl is a 1984 French drama film written and directed by Leos Carax, starring Denis Lavant and Mireille Perrier. It was Carax' first feature film...
(1984) - Mauvais Sang (1986)
- Les Amants du Pont-NeufLes Amants du Pont-NeufLes Amants du Pont-Neuf is a 1991 French film directed by Leos Carax, starring Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant. The title refers to the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris...
(1991) - Sans Titre (1997) - Short
- Pola XPola XPola X is a 1999 French romantic drama film starring Guillaume Depardieu, Yekaterina Golubeva and Catherine Deneuve. The film is loosely based on the Herman Melville novel Pierre: or, The Ambiguities. It revolves around a successful young novelist who is confronted by a woman who claims to be his...
(1999) - Tokyo! (2008) - Segment "Merde"
- Holly MotorsHolly MotorsHolly Motors is an upcoming French film written and directed by Leos Carax. It will star Denis Lavant as a man who travels between multiple parallel lives...
(2012) - Scars (announced)
Actor
- King LearKing Lear (1987 film)King Lear is a 1987 filmic adaptation of the Shakespeare play of the same title, directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The script is primarily by Peter Sellars and Tom Luddy...
(1987) - The HouseThe House (1997 film)The House is a 1997 French-Lithuanian drama film directed by Šarūnas Bartas. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Valeria Bruni Tedeschi* Leos Carax* Micaela Cardoso* Oksana Chernych* Alex Descas...
(1997) - The Process (2003)
- 977977 (film)977 is a 2006 Russian drama film directed by Nikolay Khomeriki. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Fyodor Lavrov - Ivan* Klavdiya Korshunova - Rita* Yekaterina Golubeva - Tamara...
(2006) - Mister LonelyMister LonelyMister Lonely is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Harmony Korine, and co-written with his brother Avi Korine.-Plot:A young American man living in Paris scratches out a living as a Michael Jackson look-alike, dancing on the streets, public parks, tourist spots and trade shows. During a show in...
(2007)
External links
- "Alex in the City: Fergus Daly offers a brief guide to the fall and rise of Leos Carax"
- Interview with Carax on Pola X
- Alternate music video by Carax for the song "Crystal" by New OrderNew OrderNew Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
at Google VideoGoogle VideoGoogle Videos is a video search engine, and formerly a free video sharing website, from Google Inc. Before removing user-uploaded content, the service allowed selected videos to be remotely embedded on other websites and provided the necessary HTML code alongside the media, similar to YouTube...
. - Interview with Carax on funding for Pola X at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. - Carax's 1997 short film Sans Titre at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. - Carax's "my last minute", a short film at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.