Alain Jessua

Person

Alain Jessua

Directing January 16, 1932

Paris, France

Alain Jessua began his career as assistant to directors like Max Ophüls, Marcel Carne, Yves Allégret and Jacques Becker, before making his unique short film, Léon la lune, which e…

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Alain Jessua began his career as assistant to directors like Max Ophüls, Marcel Carne, Yves Allégret and Jacques Becker, before making his unique short film, Léon la lune, which earned him the prestigious Prix Jean-Vigo award in 1957. A few years later, in 1963, his first feature film (which became "cult" among moviegoers) won two prizes in Cannes and also Venice: La Vie à l'envers, with Charles Denner and Jean Yanne in his first movie role. He then went on to direct a series of successful and critically acclaimed feature films, which he produced himself (a rare risk in the French cinema landscape). Alain Jessua is regularly honored in France and abroad. His short film Léon la lune was screened at the MOMA - Museum of Modern Art in New York a few years ago and Martin Scorsese cited La Vie à l'envers as one of the films that really made an impact on him. Jean Tulard , in his "Dictionary of Cinema", writes: "He proposes a cinema where he tackles the problems of our time and makes cries of alarm. " Alain Jessua is also the author of six novels.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2021
  2. 2019
    The Story of French Fantasy Cinema

    Movie Self (archive footage)

  3. 2013
  4. 2006
  5. 1997
    The Colors of the Devil

    Movie Writer

  6. 1988
    No Harm Intended

    Movie Producer

  7. 1984
    Frankenstein 90

    Movie Director

  8. 1982
    Paradise for All

    Movie Director

  9. 1979
    The Dogs

    Movie Director

  10. 1977
    Armageddon

    Movie Director

  11. 1973
    Shock Treatment

    Movie Music

  12. 1967
    The Killing Game

    Movie Director

  13. 1964
    Life Upside Down

    Movie Director

  14. 1960
    The Eighth Day

    Movie Assistant Director

  15. 1956
    Léon la lune

    Movie Director

  16. 1955
    Lola Montès

    Movie Assistant Director Trainee

More credits
  1. 1953
    The Earrings of Madame de...

    Movie Assistant Director