MOVIE | Maurice Pialat: The Little-Known Master of French Cinema
MOVIE | A Retrospective of Late Masterpieces Commemorates a Decade Since His Passing
Maurice Pialat: The Unsung Master of French Cinema
Maurice Pialat, a titan of French cinema, has only had two films released in Japan to date. To mark the 10th anniversary of his passing, "Maurice Pialat: The Unsung Master of French Cinema," a screening of four of his late masterpieces, will begin its nationwide theatrical run on Saturday, November 2nd, at Theatre Image Forum and other venues.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Maurice Pialat, a figure of immense renown in his native France, has profoundly influenced filmmakers since the Nouvelle Vague. This past February, a retrospective at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris sparked a global reevaluation of his work. Now, four of Pialat's late masterpieces are set to be shown on the big screen.
Born in France in 1925, Maurice Pialat initially aspired to be a painter. He moved to Paris to study at an arts and crafts school, continuing his work despite frequent interruptions caused by World War II. However, he took on various jobs to support himself and began to develop an interest in filmmaking in the 1950s, debuting with a short documentary in 1960.
He subsequently released a series of ambitious works, including "The Boy Tries to Get to the Sea" (1968), which received critical acclaim and was officially screened at the Venice Film Festival. "Under the Sun of Satan" (1987), to be shown in this retrospective, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
In addition to "Under the Sun of Satan," the program includes "A Man in Love" (1983), a César Award winner depicting a young girl's journey of growth through love and heartbreak. "Police" (1985), a story of romance between a narcotics officer and a young female suspect played by Sophie Marceau, which became Pialat's biggest hit, will also have its Japanese premiere.
Furthermore, "Van Gogh" (1991), a celebrated masterpiece that chronicles the final two months of the life of Vincent van Gogh—the painter Pialat most admired during his own artistic aspirations—will finally be released in Japan.
Pialat consistently pursued the enigmatic nature of human existence, often creating ripples of incomprehension. Even a decade after his death, his sharp gaze remains undimmed, revealing to us the profound depth and complexity of life.
"Maurice Pialat: The Unsung Master of French Cinema"
Nationwide theatrical release begins Saturday, November 2nd, at Theatre Image Forum and other venues.
Distribution | Zazie Films
A Man in Love
Director, Screenplay, Dialogue | Maurice Pialat
Starring | Sandrine Ponelle, Évelyne Ker, Dominique Besnehard, Maurice Pialat
1983 | France | 100 min
Police
Director, Screenplay, Adaptation, Dialogue | Maurice Pialat
Starring | Gérard Depardieu, Sophie Marceau, Richard Anconina, Pascal Robert
1985 | 114 min
Under the Sun of Satan
Director | Maurice Pialat
Starring | Gérard Depardieu, Sandrine Bonnaire, Maurice Pialat, Alain Arture
1987 | 97 min
Van Gogh
Director, Screenplay, Dialogue | Maurice Pialat
Starring | Jacques Dutronc, Alexandra London, Bernard Le Coq, Gérard Sety
1991 | France | 160 min
http://www.zaziefilms.com/pialat/