Happy 69th Birthday, Jean-Pierre Dardenne! Born today in 1951, this Belgian screenwriter, producer and film director is one half of the Belgian filmmaking duo, collectively referred to as the Dardenne brothers.
Together with his younger brother Luc, they both write, produce, and direct their films together. The Dardennes began making narrative and documentary films in the late 1970s.
Among their credits, Jean-Pierre is best known for co-writing, co-producing and co-directing the 1999 Belgian-French drama/youth novel film 'Rosetta' and the 2011 Belgian/French/Italian drama/comedy-drama film 'Le gamin au vélo' ('The Kid with a Bike').
The former follows Belgian 17-year-old Rosetta (Émilie Dequenne), who lives in a dilapidated trailer that has no running water, with only her indigent and alcoholic mother (Anne Yernaux) for company.
After losing her job at a food processing plant, the teen struggles to find work in a bid to avoid falling into the same traps as her mother, but is rebuffed at every turn.
Only Riquet (Fabrizio Rongione), who works at a nearby waffle stand, seems to care for Rosetta, but even that budding friendship has a price.
Only Riquet (Fabrizio Rongione), who works at a nearby waffle stand, seems to care for Rosetta, but even that budding friendship has a price.
'Rosetta' won numerous accolades, including the Palme d'Or and the Best Actress awards at the 52nd Cannes Film Festival in May 1999, and received critical acclaim upon release.
The latter tells of twelve-year-old Thomas Doret (Cyril Catoul), who is abandoned by his father and left in state care. He later finds a new friend in Samantha (Cécile de France), a local hairdresser who takes pity on him and agrees to foster him on weekends.
The film was produced through companies in Belgium and France. While 'The Kid with a Bike' does not deviate from the naturalistic style of the Dardenne brothers' earlier works, a comparatively bright aesthetic was employed, as well as a screenplay inspired by fairy tales.
Unusually for a film by the directors, it also uses music. In May 2011, it premiered at the 64th Cannes Film Festival and was co-winner of the festival's Grand Prix.
Both of the Dardenne brothers are known for their starkly realistic approach to working-class themes and characters.
Jean-Pierre has been active from 1978–present.
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