Bertrand Tavernier (; 25 April 1941 – 25 March 2021) was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer.
Life and career Tavernier was born in Lyon, France, the son of Geneviève (née Dumond) and René Tavernier, a publicist and writer, several years president of the French PEN club. He said his father's publishing of a wartime resistance journal and aid to anti-Nazi intellectuals shaped his moral outlook as an artist. According to Tavernier, his father believed that words were "as important and as lethal as bullets". Tavernier's politics were influenced by the 1968 general strike in France. He was particularly struck by the writing of Leon Trotsky and associated with the OCI between 1973 and 1975.
Tavernier aspired to become a filmmaker from the time he was 13 or 14 years old. He cited John Ford, William Wellman, Jean Renoir, Jean Vigo and Jacques Becker as among his cinematic influences. He entered the film industry as a publicist, where he worked for Jean-Pierre Melville and Jean-Luc Godard. Later, his first film (The Clockmaker, 1974) won the Prix Louis Delluc and the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize award at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival.
Tavernier's early films were often mysteries and thrillers that carried a social critique, such as The Judge and the Assassin (1976) and Coup de Torchon (1981), while his later work is characterized by a more overt social commentary, highlighting his left-wing views (Life and Nothing But (1989), Captain Conan (1996)) and presenting a critical picture of contemporary French society (It All Starts Today (1999), Histoires de vies brisées : les double-peine de Lyon (2001)).
Honours and awards In 1986, his film Round Midnight won two César Awards (Best Original Music and Best Sound), the Best Film Award at the Venice Film Festival and the Oscar for Best Music (Original Score) at the 1987 Academy Awards.
His film Life and Nothing But won the BAFTA for best film in a language other than English in 1990 and several César Awards, amongst others.
In 1995, his film L'Appât won the Golden Bear Award at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival. Four years later, his film It All Starts Today won an Honourable Mention at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival.
His film The Princess of Montpensier competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
Tavernier was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 42nd International Film Festival of India in Goa for his outstanding achievements and work in the film industry.
Personal life Tavernier was married to screenwriter Colo Tavernier O'Hagan from 1965 to 1981. They had two children. Their son, Nils Tavernier (born 1 September 1965), works as both a director and actor. Their daughter, Tiffany Tavernier (born in 1967), is a novelist, screenwriter and assistant director.
Death Tavernier died on 25 March 2021 at age 79.
Filmography Short film Year Title Director Writer1964 Les baisers La chance et l'amour 1983 La 8ème génération Ciné citron 1991 Contre l'oubli
Documentary film Year Title Director Producer Writer Notes 1982 Philippe Soupault 1983 Mississippi Blues Co-directed with Robert Parrish 1988 Lyon, le regard intérieur 1991 Der grüne Berg 1992 La guerre sans nom 1994 Veillées d'armes Co-directed by Marcel Ophüls 1997 De l'autre côté du périph Co-directed with Nils Tavernier 2001 Histoires de vies brisées 2016 Voyage à travers le cinéma français Lumière ! L'aventure commence
TV movie Les enfants de Thiès (2001)
Feature film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 1967 Mexican Slayride Also press attache 1968 Captain Singrid 1974 The Clockmaker 1975 Let Joy Reign Supreme 1976 The Judge and the Assassin 1977 Spoiled Children La question 1979 Death Watch 1980 A Week's Vacation 1981 Coup de Torchon 1983 La trace 1984 A Sunday in the Country 1986 Round Midnight 1987 Beatrice Les mois d'avril sont meurtriers 1989 Life and Nothing But 1990 Daddy Nostalgie Also narrator 1992 L.627 1994 Revenge of the Musketeers 1995 The Bait 1996 Captain Conan 1999 It All Starts Today 2001 Mon père, il m'a sauvé la vie 2002 Safe Conduct 2004 Holy Lola 2008 Lucifer et moi 2009 In the Electric Mist 2010 The Princess of Montpensier 2013 The French Minister () Also actor
Other credits Year Title Role Notes 1960 Wen kümmert's? Assistant DirectorShort film 1962 The Bakery Girl of Monceau Narrator1963 Contempt Publicist Le Doulos Production publicist 1964 The Terror of Rome Against the Son of Hercules Assistant Director 1965 The 317th Platoon Press attache 1966 A Question of HonourAssistant Director1969 Orgasmo Tout peut arriver Actor 1970 Last Known Address Press attache 1981 Le petit Mitchell illustré Actor Short film 1990 Un été après l'autreTechnical advisor 1991 Ragazzi Jalousie1997 Fred Executive producer Quand le chat sourit Actor Short film 2001 Pas d'histoires ! Co-Producer
Awards and nominations Year Title Award/Nomination 1974 The Clockmaker Berlin International Film Festival - OCIC AwardBerlin International Film Festival - Silver Berlin BearNational Board of Review Award - Top Foreign FilmsLouis Delluc Prize for Best First FilmNominated - Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Berlin Bear 1975 Let Joy Reign Supreme César Award for Best DirectorCésar Award for Best Screenplay, Dialogue or AdaptationFrench Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best Film 1976 The Judge and the Assassin César Award for Best Screenplay, Dialogue or AdaptationNominated - César Award for Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best Director 1979 Death Watch Nominated - César Award for Best Screenplay, Dialogue or AdaptationNominated - Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Berlin BearNominated - Chicago International Film Festival - Best Feature 1980 A Week's Vacation Nominated - Cannes Film Festival - Palme d'OrNominated - Chicago International Film Festival - Best Feature 1981 Coup de Torchon French Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Best FilmNominated - Academy Award for Best Foreign Language FilmNominated - César Award for Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best DirectorNominated - César Award for Best Screenplay, Dialogue or Adaptation 1984 A Sunday in the Country Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best DirectorBoston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Language FilmCannes Film Festival - Best DirectorCésar Award for Best AdaptationLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for Foreign Language Film of the YearMainichi Film Award for Foreign Film Best One AwardNational Board of Review Award - Top Foreign FilmsNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language FilmKansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign FilmNominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language FilmNominated - BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English LanguageNominated - Cannes Film Festival - Palme d'OrNominated - César Award for Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best DirectorNominated - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best FilmNominated - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best DirectorNominated - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best ScreenplayNominated - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director 1986 Round Midnight Bodil Award for Best Non-American FilmItalian National Syndicate of Film Journalists - Best Foreign DirectorVenice Film Festival - Pasinetti AwardNominated - National Board of Review: Top Ten FilmsNominated - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Foreign Language FilmNominated - Venice Film Festival - Golden Lion 1989 Life and Nothing But BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English LanguageEuropean Film Award - Special Prize of the JuryLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language FilmTokyo International Film Festival - Best Artistic Contribution AwardViareggio EuropaCinema - Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best DirectorNominated - César Award for Best Original Screenplay or AdaptationNominated - David di Donatello for Best Foreign FilmNominated - National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Language FilmNominated - Tokyo International Film Festival - Tokyo Grand Prix 1990 Daddy Nostalgie Nominated - Cannes Film Festival - Palme d'OrNominated - Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film1992 L.627 Nominated - César Award for Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best DirectorNominated - César Award for Best Original Screenplay or AdaptationNominated - Venice Film Festival - Golden Lion La guerre sans nom Bergamo Film Meeting - Special Mention 1995 The Bait Berlin International Film Festival - Golden BearNominated - Gramado Film Festival - Best Latin FilmNominated - Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists - European Silver Ribbon 1996 Captain Conan César Award for Best DirectorDenver Film Festival - Krzysztof Kieslowski AwardDenver Film Festival - People's Choice AwardFrench Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Best FilmSan Sebastián International Film Festival - FIPRESCI PrizeSan Sebastián International Film Festival - Solidarity AwardNominated - César Award for Best FilmNominated - César Award for Best Original Screenplay or AdaptationNominated - San Sebastián International Film Festival - Golden Seashell 1999 It All Starts Today Berlin International Film Festival - FIPRESCI PrizeBerlin International Film Festival - Honorable MentionBerlin International Film Festival - Prize of the Ecumenical JuryNorwegian International Film Festival - Ecumenical Film AwardSan Sebastián International Film Festival - Audience AwardFotogramas de Plata - Best Foreign FilmSant Jordi Award for Best Foreign FilmTuria Award for Audience AwardTuria Award for Best Foreign FilmNominated - Berlin International Film Festival - Golden BearNominated - Goya Award for Best European FilmNominated - Political Film Society Award for DemocracyNominated - Political Film Society Award for ExposéNominated - Political Film Society Award for Human RightsNominated - Cinema Writers Circle Award for Best Foreign Film 2002 Safe Conduct Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival - Best FilmFt. Lauderdale International Film Festival - Best DirectorFt. Lauderdale International Film Festival - Best ScreenplayNominated - Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Bear 2004 Holy Lola San Sebastián International Film Festival - Audience Award 2009 In the Electric Mist Nominated - Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Bear 2010 The Princess of Montpensier Philadelphia Film Festival - Audience Award - Honorable MentionNominated - Cannes Film Festival - Palme d'OrNominated - Chicago International Film Festival - Best FeatureNominated - César Award for Best Adaptation 2013 The French Minister () San Sebastián International Film Festival - Best ScreenplayNominated - César Award for Best AdaptationNominated - Lumière Award for Best FilmNominated - Lumière Award for Best DirectorNominated - Lumière Award for Best ScreenplayNominated - San Sebastián International Film Festival - Best Film 2016 Voyage à travers le cinéma français Nominated - Cannes Film Festival - L'Œil d'or
References
External links
Senses of Cinema: Great Directors Critical Database Emily Zants (1999). "Bertrand Tavernier: Fractured Narrative and Bourgeois Values", The Scarecrow Press, Inc., Lanham, MD, and London. The Table of Contents and Introductory Chapter An interview with Bertrand Tavernier: "My job is to dream and invent, and out of this produce something that will change the world" - World Socialist Web Site Bertrand Tavernier speaks with the World Socialist Web Site An interview with Bertrand Tavernier on his film The Princess of Montpensier at subtitledonline.com Bertrand Tavernier in Conversation with Melinda Camber Porter PDF Veteran French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier (1941–2021): In genuine appreciation - World Socialist Web Site