Louis Malle, One of France’s Greatest Directors

 
Louis Malle, One of France’s Greatest Directors

A look back at the life and works of Louis Malle, one of France’s greatest directors.

Louis Malle’s childhood gave rise to one of the great movies of French cinema. Born at the end of October 1932 in Thumeries, in the Nord department, Malle’s family were wealthy industrialists (who, incidentally, didn’t at all approve of his later career choice).

He was sent to a Catholic boarding school near Fontainebleau where, during the war, aged 11, he witnessed a Gestapo raid which saw three Jewish students, one of whom was a close pal, and a Jewish teacher rounded up and sent off to Auschwitz. The headteacher was arrested for harbouring them and also sent to a concentration camp. The horror of the episode – and the bravery of the school staff involved – was memorialised some 40 years later in 1987’s masterpiece, Au revoir les enfants.

But in the early 1950s, Malle wasn’t thinking of becoming a movie man, instead choosing to study political science at Sciences Po Paris. It wasn’t to last, though, and he soon embarked on film studies. His first feature was a documentary, which saw him bursting onto the film scene in true style. Pairing up in 1956 with none other than Jacques Cousteau, they made the documentary Le Monde du silence (The Silent World), which went on to win an Oscar and the Palme d’Or. His first feature-length drama, crime thriller Ascenseur pour l’échafaud (Elevator to the Gallows, 1958), won him yet more praise. It also thrust Jeanne Moreau (his then girlfriend) into the spotlight, as well as famously boasting a ‘groundbreaking’ score by jazz legend Miles Davis.

A raft of movies followed, more than 30 in total, including the controversial Les Amants (1958), Le Feu follet (The Fire Within, 1963) and Le Souffle au cœur (Murmur of the Heart, 1971), all of which touched on taboos. This willingness to provoke paid off: as well as critical acclaim, Malle scooped three Césars, two BAFTAs and three Oscar nominations, including one for Best Foreign Language Film Lacombe, Lucien (1974).

In the 1970s, he relocated to the US, where films such as Pretty Baby (1978), Atlantic City (1980) and My Dinner with André (1981) won him further adoration. From little boy terrorised by the Nazis to jazz fan and auteur, Louis Malle was one of the most influential voices in 20th century cinema.

LOUIS MALLE’s 10-SECOND CV

Name: Louis Malle.

Born: October 30, 1932, in Thumeries, Nord

Died: Aged 63 on November 23, 1995, in Beverly Hills, California

Early career:

After studying at l’Institut des hautes études cinématographiques he made a couple of shorts and then teamed up with oceanographer Jacques Cousteau for the award-winning documentary, Le Monde du silence.

I know the name…

Having made more than 30 films during in his career, that’s hardly surprising, plus, he was one of the few French directors to relocate Stateside in the 1970s.

What should I watch first?

You can’t go wrong with the tender and exquisitely filmed Au revoir les enfants. Or for another wartime masterpiece, check out Lacombe, Lucien.

C’est pas vrai!

In the 70s, Malle had a four-year relationship with movie star Susan Saradon. They met on the set of Pretty Baby when she was 31 and he was 45.

From France Today Magazine

Lead photo credit : Louis Malle, centre, and, clockwise from top left, Les Amants, Au revoir les enfants, Le Souffle au cœur and Le Feu follet

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