Wednesday, March 18, 2020

March 18 - René Clément


Happy Birthday, René Clément! Born today in 1913, this French screenwriter and film director was one of the most acclaimed film directors of his generation. 

Clément was one of the leading French filmmakers of the post-World War II era, and directed what are regarded as some of the greatest films of all time.

One the late 1940s, Clément served for French poet, playwright, novelist, designer, filmmaker visual artist and critic Jean Cocteau as "technical director".

This was for Cocteau's 1946 French black and white fantasy/romance film 'La Belle et la Bête' ('Beauty and the Beast'). However, Clément went uncredited.
  
Six years later, Clément directed the film of which he is best known This was the 1952 French black and white drama/war film 'Jeux interdits' ('Forbidden Games'). 
  
Based on the 1947 novel of the same name by French screenwriter François Boyer, the film follows a young Parisian girl named Paulette (Brigitte Fossey), of whom had become orphaned after a Nazi air raid. 

She later runs into Michel (Georges Poujouly), an older peasant boy, and the two quickly become close.  
  
Together, they try to make sense of the chaotic and crumbling world around them, attempting to cope with death as they create a burial ground for Paulette's deceased pet dog. 

Eventually, however, Paulette's stay with Michel's family is threatened by the harsh realities of wartime. 
  
The following year, 'Forbidden Games' won the Honorary Award for France and for being the Best Foreign Language Film first released in the United States during 1952. This occurred at the 25th Academy Awards in March 1953. 
  
Two years later, the film won an Oscar for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story (François Boyer) at the 27th Academy Awards in late March 1955. 
  
Clément had been active for 19351975. 
  
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