Michel Deville
Encyclopedia
Michel Deville is a French
film director
and screenwriter
.
Deville started his filmmaking career in the late 1950s, paralleling the emergence of the French New Wave
directors. He never achieved the level of critical and international recognition of some of his contemporaries such as François Truffaut
, Jean-Luc Godard
and Chabrol, possibly because of his more conventional filmmaking style. Nevertheless his films, especially his comedies from the 1970s and 1980s, were popular in his native France.
One of Deville's comedies, La Lectrice ("The Reader") was probably his biggest success with international audiences. La Lectrice is about a woman (played by Miou-Miou
), who finds work reading novels for the blind but gradually finds herself unwittingly attracting a clientele of fetishists
who enjoyed being read to. At one time his films were difficult to find in North America but presently(2007) seven of his films are available in DVD in the U.S.
His 1980 film Le Voyage en douce
was entered into the 30th Berlin International Film Festival
. Five years later, his film Death in a French Garden
was entered into the 35th Berlin International Film Festival
.
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
film director
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:...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
Deville started his filmmaking career in the late 1950s, paralleling the emergence of the 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...
directors. He never achieved the level of critical and international recognition of some of his contemporaries such as François Truffaut
François Truffaut
François Roland Truffaut was an influential film critic and filmmaker and one of the founders of the French New Wave. In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry. He was also a screenwriter, producer, and actor working on over twenty-five...
, 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"....
and Chabrol, possibly because of his more conventional filmmaking style. Nevertheless his films, especially his comedies from the 1970s and 1980s, were popular in his native France.
One of Deville's comedies, La Lectrice ("The Reader") was probably his biggest success with international audiences. La Lectrice is about a woman (played by Miou-Miou
Miou-Miou
Miou-Miou is a French actress. In her career she has worked with a number of international directors, including Michel Gondry, Bertrand Blier, Yves Boisset, Claude Berri, Jacques Deray, Michel Deville, Diane Kurys, Radu Mihăileanu, Patrice Leconte, Joseph Losey and Louis Malle.-Career:She was born...
), who finds work reading novels for the blind but gradually finds herself unwittingly attracting a clientele of fetishists
Sexual fetishism
Sexual fetishism, or erotic fetishism, is the sexual arousal a person receives from a physical object, or from a specific situation. The object or situation of interest is called the fetish, the person a fetishist who has a fetish for that object/situation. Sexual fetishism may be regarded, e.g...
who enjoyed being read to. At one time his films were difficult to find in North America but presently(2007) seven of his films are available in DVD in the U.S.
His 1980 film Le Voyage en douce
Le Voyage en douce
Le Voyage en douce is a 1980 French drama film directed by Michel Deville. The screenplay is shaped around 15 different sexual anecdotes, penned by 15 writers. The film stars Dominique Sanda and Geraldine Chaplin...
was entered into the 30th Berlin International Film Festival
30th Berlin International Film Festival
The 30th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 18 to February 29, 1980.-Jury:* Ingrid Thulin * Betsy Blair* Mathieu Carrière* Alberto Isaac* Peter Kern* Károly Makk* Alexander Mitta* Alexandre Trauner...
. Five years later, his film Death in a French Garden
Death in a French Garden
Death in a French Garden is a 1985 French drama film directed by Michel Deville. It was entered into the 35th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Anémone as Edwige Ledieu* Richard Bohringer as Daniel Forest* Nicole Garcia as Julia Tombsthay...
was entered into the 35th Berlin International Film Festival
35th Berlin International Film Festival
The 35th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 15 to February 26, 1985.-Jury:* Jean Marais * Max von Sydow* Alberto Sordi* Regimantas Adomaitis* Sheila Benson* Wolfgang Kohlhaase* Onat Kutlar* Luis Megino...
.
Partial filmography
- Un monde presque paisible (Almost Peaceful), 2002
- La Maladie de SachsLa Maladie de SachsLa maladie de Sachs is a 1999 French film directed by Michel Deville from a novel by Martin Winckler. It won the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics Prix Méliès, and received César nominations for Best Actor, Best Director and Best Writing.- Plot :Dr...
, 1999 - Le Fils de Gascogne (Son of Gascogne), 1995
- La LectriceThe Reader (1988 film)The Reader is a 1988 film based on Raymond Jean's novel "La Lectrice".- Plot :Inspired by the story of Marie, a woman who advertises her services as a reader of literature, Constance decides to do the same....
, 1988 - Péril en la demeureDeath in a French GardenDeath in a French Garden is a 1985 French drama film directed by Michel Deville. It was entered into the 35th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Anémone as Edwige Ledieu* Richard Bohringer as Daniel Forest* Nicole Garcia as Julia Tombsthay...
(Death in a French Garden (UK title) and Peril (US title), 1985 - Eaux profondesEaux profondesEaux profondes is a 1981 French thriller film directed by Michel Deville and starring Isabelle Huppert.-Cast:* Isabelle Huppert - Melanie* Jean-Louis Trintignant - Vic Allen* Sandrine Kljajic - Marion* Éric Frey - Denis Miller...
(1981) - Le Voyage en douceLe Voyage en douceLe Voyage en douce is a 1980 French drama film directed by Michel Deville. The screenplay is shaped around 15 different sexual anecdotes, penned by 15 writers. The film stars Dominique Sanda and Geraldine Chaplin...
(Sentimental Journey), 1980 - Le dossier 51, 1978
- Le Mouton enragé, 1974
- La Femme en bleu (The Woman in Blue), 1973
- Raphaël ou le débauché, 1971
- L'Ours et la poupée (The Bear and the Doll), 1969 (with Brigitte BardotBrigitte BardotBrigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
) - BenjaminBenjamin (film)Benjamin is a 1968 French comedy film directed by Michel Deville who co-wrote screenplay with Nina Companéez...
(1968) - Zärtliche HaieZärtliche HaieZärtliche Haie is a 1967 German-French thriller film directed by Michel Deville and starring Anna Karina.-Cast:* Anna Karina - Elena / Costa* Mario Adorf - Spion SB 3* Gérard Barray - Gregory* Fritz Tillmann - Admiral* Scilla Gabel - Zeezee...
(1967) - Tonight or NeverTonight or Never (1961 film)Tonight or Never is a 1961 French comedy film directed by Michel Deville and starring Anna Karina.-Cast:* Anna Karina - Valérie* Claude Rich - Laurent* Georges Descrières - Guillaume* Jacqueline Danno - Martine* Michel de Ré - Alex...
(1961)