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Director(s):
LEUTHY (Cyril)
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Producer(s):
KEPLER22 PRODUCTIONS, ARTE FRANCE
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Territories:
Europe.
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Production year:
2024
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Language(s):
German, English, French
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Rights:
TV, NON-THEATRICAL, INTERNET, VOD
As the unforgettable hero of THE 400 BLOWS, Jean-Pierre Léaud made his major debut at the age of 14 – and never stopped being an actor. As an icon of international auteur cinema, he redefined masculinity and the approach to embodying a character alongside some of the greatest directors: Truffaut, Godard, Assayas, Tsai Ming-Liang, Aki Kaurismaki, etc.
As an actor, you either love him or you hate him. Some say his acting is unnatural par excellence with a very personal diction and elocution. He is one of those rare actors whom directors often let improvise their lines, something that irritates some viewers and fascinates others. However, there's no denying that Léaud is no ordinary actor. He is the icon of the French New Wave. A legend with a complex personality who doesn't get talked about enough, but who (as this portrait shows) has left a lively legacy among today's young actors. Above all, he was Antoine Doinel, one of cinema's most famous characters, at the center of Truffaut’s unique Balzacian cycle: 5 coming-of-age films, from the age of 14 to 33. Jean-Pierre Léaud will remain an important name in the history of cinema. He will turn 80 in 2024.