Claude Lelouch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Claude Lelouch
Lelouch in 2019
Born	Claude Barruck Joseph Lelouch (1937-10-30) 30 October 1937 (age 87) Paris, France
Occupation	Film director screenwriter cinematographer actor film producer
Spouse(s)	Christine Cochet ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1972)​ Évelyne Bouix ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1985)​ Marie-Sophie L. ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1992)​ Alessandra Martines ​ ​ (m. 1993; div. 2009)​
Partner(s)	Gunilla Friden (1970s)
Children	7
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Claude Lelouch (born October 30, 1937) is a famous French film director, writer, and producer. He also works as a cinematographer and actor. Claude grew up in an Algerian Jewish family. He became well-known in the 1960s for his movies.

Lelouch gained a lot of praise for his 1966 romantic film, A Man and a Woman. This movie won two Oscars in 1967: Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film. Claude Lelouch was also nominated for Best Director. His films have been recognized around the world since the 1960s.

Claude Lelouch's Early Life and Career

Claude Lelouch was born in Paris, France. His mother's family converted to Judaism, and his father was from an Algerian Jewish family.

Claude says that movies saved his life when he was very young. During World War II, his mother would hide him in movie theaters because they were being searched for by the Gestapo.

Starting in Film

After not doing well in his school exams, Claude's father bought him a camera. This was a new start for him. He began his career by making short films called reportages. One of his first projects was filming daily life in the Soviet Union. He had to hide his camera under his coat!

He also filmed big sports events, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans car race and the Tour de France bicycle race.

Working in the French Army

Lelouch served in the French Army in their film unit. While there, he made over 100 films. He finished his army service in 1960.

Claude Lelouch's Film Journey

Claude Lelouch's first full-length movie as a director was Le Propre de l'homme. Critics did not like it at all. One famous film magazine even said, "Claude Lelouch, remember this name well, because you will not hear it again."

However, his movie A Man and a Woman changed everything. It was a huge success and even the critics who disliked his earlier work enjoyed it.

Famous Films and Collaborations

Many people consider his 1981 musical movie Les Uns et les Autres to be his best work. Claude Lelouch has directed about 50 films in total.

He often worked with the composer Francis Lai. They created the famous theme song for A Man and a Woman. This song was sung by Nicole Croisille and Pierre Barouh, and there are more than 300 different versions of it!

The C'était un rendez-vous Films

In 1976, Lelouch made a short film called C'était un rendez-vous. It shows a car driving very fast through the streets of Paris at dawn. The whole film is shot from inside the car. People used to think he drove a Ferrari 275 in the film. However, in 2006, Lelouch said he actually drove his own Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9. He added the sound of a different sports car for the movie.

In 2020, Claude Lelouch made a new version of this short film called Le Grand Rendez-vous. This time, it was filmed in Monaco and starred the racing driver Charles Leclerc. Leclerc drove a Ferrari SF90 Stradale on the Circuit de Monaco. This new film was released on June 13, 2020.

Awards and Recognition

Claude Lelouch's film A Man and a Woman won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival. It also won two Oscars, including Best Foreign Language Film.

His 1967 film Vivre pour vivre was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar as well. In 1971, he won the David di Donatello award for Best Foreign Directing for his movie Le Voyou.

In 1993, he was the head of the jury at the 18th Moscow International Film Festival.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Claude Lelouch para niños