André Téchiné facts for kids

Quick facts for kids André Téchiné
Téchiné in 2018
Born	(1943-03-13) 13 March 1943 (age 82) Valence-d'Agen, Tarn-et-Garonne, France
Occupation	Filmmaker
Years active	1966–present
Awards	Best Director Award (Cannes Film Festival) 1985 Rendez-vous

André Téchiné (born 13 March 1943) is a French screenwriter and film director. He has had a long and successful career, making him one of the most important French film directors after the French New Wave movement.

Téchiné was part of a group of film critics who, like François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, later became filmmakers. He is known for his elegant and emotional films that often explore deep feelings and what it means to be human. One of Téchiné's special touches is how he looks at human connections in a real and thoughtful way. You can see this in his well-known films like My Favorite Season (1993) and Wild Reeds (1994).

His films often discuss different challenges people face and how modern society develops.

Life and Early Career

André Téchiné was born on 13 March 1943 in Valence-d'Agen, a small town in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France. His family, who had Spanish roots, owned a small business that sold farm equipment. He grew up in the French countryside and developed a strong love for movies as a teenager.

From 1952 to 1959, he attended a Catholic boarding school. He could only leave on Sunday afternoons, and he would often go to the cinema. In 1959, he moved to a different school, which introduced him to new ideas and a film club. He even wrote for a film magazine there. Téchiné once said, "Films were my only opening to the world." He added that movies helped him understand how the world works and how people interact.

At 19, he moved to Paris to become a filmmaker. He didn't get into France's main film school, but he started writing reviews for Cahiers du cinéma, a famous film magazine. He worked there for four years, from 1964 to 1967.

Téchiné's first experience making films came from working in theater. He became an assistant director for Marc'O's film Les Idoles (1967). He also helped Jacques Rivette with his film L'amour fou (1969).

Téchiné is known for his elegant and emotional films that explore the complexities of human life and feelings. He often examines human relationships in a sensitive but realistic way. His style is influenced by writers and filmmakers like Roland Barthes, Bertolt Brecht, Ingmar Bergman, William Faulkner, and the French New Wave. He explores different identities and cultures, showing various parts of French life. He doesn't like flying, so he usually travels by train to film events near his Paris apartment.

Téchiné has said, "I never know how each film will end." He explained that he films each scene like a short movie and only focuses on the main story when he edits. His goal is to tell a story, but that's the last step in his process.

Film Career Highlights

Paulina is Leaving (1969)

André Téchiné's first film as a director was Paulina s'en va (Paulina is Leaving) (1969). The main character, Paulina, is trying to find her path in life. The film was shown at the Venice Film Festival but wasn't released until 1975.

French Provincial (1974)

After working in television and theater, Téchiné became well-known with his second film, Souvenirs d'en France (French Provincial) (1974). This movie blends humor, drama, and a look back at the past. It was filmed in Téchiné's hometown and tells the story of a small-town family through different historical periods in France. The film stars Jeanne Moreau.

Barocco (1976)

André Téchiné after filming Barocco in Amsterdam, 1976

Téchiné showed his skill for creating a strong atmosphere with his next film, the thriller Barocco (1976). This drama tells the story of a boxer who is killed after refusing to lie for a politician. His girlfriend then develops a connection with the person who killed him. Critics praised the film's stylish look.

The Bronte Sisters (1979)

Three years later, Téchiné made a biographical film, Les sœurs Brontë (The Bronte Sisters) (1979), about the famous Brontë sisters. The film captures the difficult and unfair lives the sisters experienced. The movie's dark look reflects the contrast between their daily lives and the vivid stories in their novels. It features a cast of well-known actresses: Isabelle Adjani, Marie-France Pisier, and Isabelle Huppert as Emily, Charlotte, and Anne Brontë.

Hotel America (1981)

Hôtel des Amériques (1981), set in Biarritz, explores the difficult relationship between a successful woman and an unhappy man. This film marked a change in Téchiné's work, making his movies more realistic. For the first time, Téchiné allowed his actors to improvise, a practice he has continued. This film also began a long and successful partnership with actress Catherine Deneuve.

Rendez-vous (1985)

After a television production, Téchiné gained more attention with Rendez-vous (1985). In this film, a young actress, Nina, moves to Paris and gets involved in a difficult relationship. Téchiné won the Cannes Festival Best Direction Award for this film, and it helped launch the career of Juliette Binoche.

The Innocents (1987)

In Téchiné's next film, Les Innocents (1987), a young woman visits Toulon for her sister's wedding and to find her missing brother. She meets new people and faces personal choices.

I Don't Kiss (1991)

J'embrasse pas (I Don't Kiss) (1991) is a sad story about a young man trying to find purpose in his life. He leaves his home in rural France hoping to become an actor in Paris. When his acting career doesn't work out, he faces difficult choices to make a living.

My Favorite Season (1993)

My Favorite Season (Ma saison préférée) (1993) is a serious story about a brother and sister who are growing apart. They are dealing with their lives when their elderly mother becomes ill after a stroke. Téchiné described this film as being "about individuality and the coldness of the modern world." It was well-received at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

Wild Reeds (1994)

The following year, Téchiné had a major success with Wild Reeds (Les roseaux sauvages) (1994). This film was originally made for French television but was shown in cinemas first. It's a story of self-discovery for four teenagers at a boarding school in Aquitaine in 1962. The film explores their personal growth and how the Algerian War affected them. Wild Reeds is Téchiné's most personal movie. The main character, François, like Téchiné, attends an all-male boarding school. Téchiné said his main interest was to show how the Algerian war was felt in a rural part of France.

Wild Reeds won several awards at the 1994 César award ceremony, including best film, best director, and best script. It also won the Prix Delluc in 1994. This film was very successful in the US, winning the New York Film Critics Award and National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Thieves (1996)

Téchiné received more praise in 1996 for Les voleurs (Thieves) (1996), a complex drama. The film moves through time and changes perspectives, exploring family and romantic connections. It suggests a world where characters are often caught in difficult situations, becoming "thieves" in emotional ways. This film earned Téchiné nominations for the César and Golden Palme at Cannes.

Alice and Martin (1998)

Téchiné followed this success with Alice et Martin (Alice and Martin) (1998), a moving love story between two people who have faced emotional difficulties. This film reunited him with Juliette Binoche. Like in Les Voleurs, Téchiné told the story out of chronological order.

Far (2001)

Loin (Far) (2001) was filmed using digital video, often with natural light, to create a feeling of unease. The film is set in Tangier and is divided into three parts. It follows three characters: a truck driver who transports goods between Morocco and France, his young friend who wants to go to Europe, and the driver's former girlfriend. Over three days, they must make important decisions about their futures.

Strayed (2003)

After a couple of less successful films, André Téchiné received praise for Strayed (Les égarés) (2003). This wartime drama tells a single story with four characters. In 1940, a widow flees Nazi-occupied Paris with her young daughter and teenage son. They are joined by a mysterious young man and find safety in an abandoned house.

Changing Times (2004)

Changing Times (Les temps qui changent) (2004) explores different cultures in modern Morocco. It shows two different ways of looking at life and the lasting power of love. A construction supervisor comes to Tangier to find a person he loved many years ago. They eventually meet again. Téchiné weaves together several smaller stories, showing how different feelings can lead to constant change and possible happiness.

The Witnesses (2007)

Les Témoins (The Witnesses) focuses on a group of friends and lovers dealing with the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. The film shows their lives, relationships, and emotions as they face the challenges of the time. Les Témoins received strong positive reviews and brought Téchiné international attention.

The Girl on the Train (2009)

The Girl on the Train (La fille du RER) is about a young woman who makes up a story about being attacked on a train. The story is based on a real event that happened in France in 2004. Téchiné explores the reasons behind this lie and its effects. He used a play and news reports to create this drama. Téchiné commented that the story "became the mirror of all French fears," showing how one person's lie can affect a whole community.

Unforgivable (2011)

Set in Venice, Unforgivable (Impardonnables) is based on a novel by Philippe Djian. It follows Francis, an older writer, who hires a detective to find his missing daughter. As his marriage faces difficulties, Francis also has someone secretly follow his wife.

In the Name of My Daughter (2014)

Like The Girl on the Train, In the Name of My Daughter (L'Homme que l'on aimait trop) is a fictionalized account of real events. It tells the story of the disappearance of a casino heiress, Agnès Le Roux, in 1977. The film combines themes of intense love, family challenges, and courtroom drama. The world of casinos in the French Riviera in the 1970s forms the background for this story, which was big news in France.

The film is based on a memoir written by Agnès Le Roux's mother and brother. It was the seventh time André Téchiné and Catherine Deneuve worked together.

Recent Works

Téchiné has continued to direct films, including Being 17 (2016), Golden Years (2017), Farewell to the Night (2019), Soul Mates (2023), and My New Friends (2024). My New Friends premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.

Political Views

In December 2023, André Téchiné, along with 50 other filmmakers, signed an open letter. This letter asked for a ceasefire and an end to harm to civilians during the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. It also called for help to reach Gaza and for the release of hostages.

Filmography

Frequent Actors

Actor	Paulina is Leaving (1969)	French Provincial (1975)	Barocco (1976)	The Bronte Sisters (1979)	Hotel America (1981)	Rendez-vous< (1985)	The Scene of the Crime (1986)	The Innocents (1987)	I Don't Kiss (1991)	My Favorite Season (1993)	Wild Reeds (1994)	Thieves (1996)	Alice and Martin (1998)	Far (2001)	Strayed (2003)	Changing Times (2004)	The Witnesses (2007)	The Girl on the Train (2009)	Impardonnables (2011)	In the Name of My Daughter (2014)
Emmanuelle Béart									Y						Y		Y
Catherine Deneuve					Y		Y			Y		Y				Y		Y		Y
Jacques Nolot					Y	Y		Y		Y	Y						Y
Marie-France Pisier	Y	Y	Y	Y
Marthe Villalonga								Y		Y			Y

See also

In Spanish: André Téchiné para niños