Jacquot, Benoît

(1947- )

   Director and screenwriter. In his early teens, Benoît Jacquot visited the Cinémathèque française, where he met Jacques Rivette, and in fact, he attributes his interest in cinema to the Nouvelle Vague or New Wave. Jacquot studied at university, but dropped out to work as an assistant director, most notably for Marguerite Duras. He directed television films as well, including a documentary on philosopher Jacques Lacan, who has influenced and commented on his work.

   Jacquot's films have been described by the director as "talking films." They often center on a young female protagonist. His first feature film, L'Assassin musicien (1976), based on a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, inspired comparisons to Robert Bresson, as did his second film, Les Enfants du placard (1977). L'Assassin musicien stars Anna Karina, the New Wave actress Jacquot became fascinated with in his early years. Jacquot cast Brigitte Fossey as the lead for Enfants du placard. His third film, Les Ailes de la colombe (1981), was adapted from the novel by Henry James and stars Isabelle Huppert and Dominique Sanda. Corps et Biens (1986) was adapted from a novel by another American writer, James Gunn. In the late 1980s, Jacquot made a few television films before directing Les Mendiants (1988), with Sanda as the lead.

   In 1990, Jacquot released La désenchantée, a film that he says renewed his career. His 1990s films demonstrate a greater interest in making personal connections with his audience. They have also enhanced the acting careers of young actresses, such as Judith Godrèche (in La désenchantée) and Virginie Ledoyen, who plays the lead in the critically acclaimed La Fille seule (1995). Jacquot has also collaborated with established actresses, such as Sandrine Bonnaire in Le Septième ciel (1997). He selected Huppert as his lead of L'École de la chair (1998), which was nominated for a Golden Palm at Cannes, Pas de scandale (1999), which was nominated for a Golden Lion at Venice, and La Fausse suivante (2000). In 1993, he released a short about his mentor Duras, titled Écrire.

   In the twenty-first century, Jacquot directed the period films Sade (2000), with Daniel Auteuil, and Adolphe (2002), starring Isabelle Adjani. He also directed an adaptation of Giacomo Puccini's opera, Tosca (2001). Jacquot continues to enhance the careers of emerging actresses: Isild Le Besco won a Lumière Award for most promising actress in Sade and is also the star of Jacquot's A tout de suite (2004). In 2005, Jacquot served on the Jury at Cannes.

   Historical Dictionary of French Cinema by Dayna Oscherwitz & Mary Ellen Higgins