Happy 60th Birthday, Abdellatif Kechiche! Born today in 1960, this Tunisian-French actor, screenwriter, producer and film director's reputation as a charismatic filmmaker is also one to fire up discussion on everything from cinematic freedom of expression.
Born in Tunis, Tunisia, Kechiche, years later, moved with his parents to Nice, France at the age of six.
In 1978, he made his stage debut at the Arènes de Cimiez (Garden of Arenas Cimiez. This is an historic site that features the ruins of a Roman amphitheater.
In the early 2000s, Kechiche directed the 2003 French romance/drama film 'Jeux d'amour et de chance' ('Games of Love and Chance', also known as 'L'esquive' ['Dodging']). The film had been shot in six weeks.
'Games of Love and Chance' won four Césars for Best Film, Best Director, Most Promising Actress (Sara Forestier), and Best Screenplay, Original or Adaptation. This occurred at the 30th César Awards in late February 2005.
Two years later, Kechiche presented the 2007 Franco-Tunisian drama/comedy-drama film 'La graine et le mulet' ('The Secret of the Grain') at the 64th Venice Film Festival in September. In the United Kingdom, the film is titled 'Couscous'.
For 'The Secret of the Grain', Kechiche was awarded the Special Jury Prize. This was tied with Todd Haynes' ('Safe', 'Far From Heaven') 2007 American drama/musical film 'I'm Not There'.
Later that same year, 'The Secret of the Grain' won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 21st European Film Awards in early December in Copenhagen, Denmark.
As an actor, Kechiche's introduction to most English-speaking audiences was starring as Ashade Mouhana the taxi driver.
This was in his 2005 American drama psychological thriller/independent film 'Sorry, Haters'. It also starred Robin Wright and Sandra Oh.
The film was an "official selection" in both the 30th Toronto International Film Festival in September, as well as the 33rd AFI Fest of the American Film Institute in November.
In 2005 and 2008, Kechiche was decorated by the government of Tunisian politician and then-President of Tunisia Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (commonly known as Ben Ali).
Also, in 2008, Kechiche received the Médaille Charlemagne pour les Médias Européens, an award for achievements in integration, together with German film director, screenwriter and producer of Turkish descent Fatih Akin ('Head-On').
Five years later, Kechiche co-wrote, co-produced and directed the film of which he is best known.
This was the 2013 French/Belgian/Spanish romance/drama film 'La Vie d'Adèle – Chapitres 1 & 2' ('The Life of Adèle – Chapters 1 & 2', or 'Blue Is the Warmest Color').
With a runtime of three hours, the film tells of the introverted French fifteen-year-old high school student Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos).
Focused on boys, she later forms a deep emotional and sexual connection with the older, blue-haired art student Emma (Léa Seydoux), of whom Adèle met in a lesbian bar.
The film eventually charts their relationship from Adèle's high school years to her early adult life and career as a school teacher.
'Blue is the Warmest Color' is based off of French writer and illustrator of graphic novels Julie Maroh's 2010 French graphic novel of the same name.
Production for the film began in March 2012 and lasted for half a year.
Approximately eight hundred hours of footage was shot, including extensive B-roll footage, with Kechiche ultimately trimming the final cut of the film down to 179 minutes.
'Blue is the Warmest Color' is filled with visual symbolism. The color blue is used extensively throughout the film—from the lighting in the gay club Adèle visits, to the dress she wears in the last scene and most notably, in Emma's hair and eyes.
For Adèle, blue represents emotional intensity, curiosity, love, and sadness.
Adèle also references Pablo Picasso a number of times, who famously went through a melancholy Blue Period.
As Emma grows out of her relationship with Adèle and their passion wanes, she removes the blue from her hair and adopts a more natural, conservative hairstyle.
Kechiche’s colorful, electrifying romance courageously dives into a young woman’s experiences of first love and sexual awakening.
It was this finely detailed, intimate epic sensitively that rendered the erotic abandon of youth.
The film later went on to captivate international audiences and has been widely embraced as a defining love story for the new century.
However, much of the controversy regarding 'Blue is the Warmest Color' was about claims of poor working conditions on set by the crew and the lead actresses, and also the film's raw depiction of sexuality.
Because of this, the film received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA.
'Blue is the Warmest Color' generated controversy upon its premiere at the 66th Cannes Film Festival and before its release.
Taking Cannes by storm, the film unanimously won the Palme d'Or from the official jury and the FIPRESCI Prize.
It is the first film to have the Palme d'Or awarded to both the director and the lead actresses, with Seydoux and Exarchopoulos joining Jane Campion ('The Piano') as the only women to have won the award.
In December of that same year, a controversy erupted about Kechiche's work methods; technicians on the film had accused him of harassment, unpaid overtime and violations of labor laws.
The two main actresses, Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos, who were also awarded the Palme d'Or, had complained about Kechiche's behavior during the shooting.
Later, in an extensive interview, they claimed that although Kechiche was difficult to work with it had been worth it, as he was a great filmmaker.
The following year, 'Blue is the Warmest Color' received critical acclaim. It was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. However, it didn't win. This occurred at the 71st Golden Globes in mid-January 2014.
One month later, it was nominated a BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. However, it didn't win. This occurred at the 67th British Academy Film Awards on February 16, 2014.
Still, many critics declared it to be one of the best films of 2013.
Two weeks later, the film was nominated for seven César Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress (Léa Seydoux).
However, it won one César Award for Most Promising Actress (Adèle Exarchopoulos). This occurred at the 39th César Awards on February 28, 2014.
Since 2016, Kechiche has been a member of the 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' (AMPAS).
In October 2018, Kechiche was accused of sexual assault by an unnamed French actress.
Kechiche is currently under investigation by the public prosecutor's office, and "categorically denies the accusations" in a statement released through his lawyer.
The trademarks of Kechiche's films include frequently casting amateur actors, making films with long running times and the use of close-ups and long takes.
He is also influenced by the films of Japanese film director and screenwriter Yasujirō Ozu ('Tokyo Story', 'Floating Weeds', 'An Autumn Afternoon').
Experimentations with both acting and directing, long hours on and off screen, uncompromising takes and exhaustive filming techniques are only a few of the characteristics that have marked Kechiche’s pursuit of excellence.
Kechiche has been active from 1982–present.
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