Denys Arcand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Denys Arcand
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Arcand at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival
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Georges-Henri Denys Arcand
June 25, 1941 Deschambault, Quebec, Canada
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| Alma mater | Université de Montréal |
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, film producer |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Spouse(s) | Denise Robert |
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| Awards | César Award for Best Director 2003 The Barbarian Invasions César Award for Best Film 2003 The Barbarian Invasions César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation 2003 The Barbarian Invasions< Genie Award for Best Direction 1986 The Decline of the American Empire 1989 Jesus of Montreal 2003 The Barbarian Invasions Genie Award for Best Original Screenplay 1986 The Decline of the American Empire 1989 Jesus of Montreal 2003 The Barbarian Invasions |
Denys Arcand, born on June 25, 1941, is a famous Canadian filmmaker. He is known for directing, writing, and producing movies. Over his long career, he has become one of the most recognized directors from Quebec around the world.
His films are often described as thoughtful and personal. One of his most famous movies, The Barbarian Invasions, won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2004. This is a huge honor for a film not made in English.
Arcand's films have been nominated for this Academy Award three times. This makes him the only French-Canadian director to have so many nominations and a win. He has also won many other important awards, including prizes from the Cannes Film Festival and three César Awards in France.
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Early Life and Education
Denys Arcand was born in Deschambault, a small village in Quebec, Canada. He grew up in a very religious family. For nine years, he went to a Jesuit school.
When he was a teenager, his family moved to Montreal. He dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player. However, while studying history at the Université de Montréal, he discovered filmmaking. This new interest gave him a clear direction for his future. He worked on student films with friends like Denis Héroux.
Filmmaking Career Highlights
In 1963, Denys Arcand joined the National Film Board of Canada. There, he made many award-winning documentaries in French. He was interested in social issues. In 1970, he made a documentary called Cotton Mill, Treadmill. This film showed how textile workers were treated unfairly.
The film caused a big stir and was not shown publicly for several years. However, this controversy actually helped Arcand's career. He also worked on TV shows, like Duplessis, a historical series he wrote.
Early Feature Films and Documentaries
In the early 1970s, Arcand directed several feature films that were praised by critics. He then returned to making documentaries. In 1982, his documentary Comfort and Indifference won an award from the Quebec Film Critics' Association.
Breakthrough Success with The Decline of the American Empire
In 1986, Arcand wrote and directed The Decline of the American Empire. This film became the highest-grossing (most money-making) film in Quebec and Canadian history at that time.
The movie won many awards at the Canadian Genie Awards. It won for best film, best director, and best original screenplay (the script). It also won the "International Critics Prize" at the Cannes Film Festival. It was the first Canadian film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Continued Acclaim with Jesus of Montreal
Three years later, in 1989, Arcand had another big success with Jesus of Montreal. This film also won the same three Genie awards. It also received the Jury Prize at Cannes.
Jesus of Montreal earned Arcand his second Academy Award nomination. This made him the first Canadian director to achieve this.
English Language Films and The Barbarian Invasions
In 1993, Arcand directed his first English language film, Love and Human Remains. He made another English film, Stardom, in 2000.
He then spent two years writing the script for The Barbarian Invasions. This film was released in 2003. It is often considered one of his best works. The Barbarian Invasions won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Denys Arcand was also nominated for an Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay. In France, the film won three César Awards in 2004: Best Film, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
Recent Works
Arcand's film Days of Darkness was chosen to close the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. After this, he took a break from directing feature films for seven years. He returned in 2014 with the movie Le règne de la beauté. His most recent film, Testament, was released in 2023.
Awards and Honors
Denys Arcand has received many important awards and honors.
- In 1988, he became an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was promoted to Companion in 2005.
- In 1990, the Government of France gave him the Legion of Honour.
- Also in 1990, his home province of Quebec gave him the title of Knight of the National Order of Quebec.
- In 1995, Arcand received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for his lifetime achievements in art.
- In February 2004, France named him a Commander of L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This is France's highest cultural honor.
- In 2004, Arcand was also added to Canada's Walk of Fame.
- He is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
- In 2023, the Directors Guild of Canada gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal Life
Denys Arcand is married to Denise Robert, who is also a film producer. They adopted a baby boy from China named Carter when Arcand was 55 years old.
Denys Arcand has two brothers who are also well-known. His brother Bernard Arcand (1945–2009) was a professor. His youngest brother Gabriel Arcand (born 1949) is a famous Canadian actor.
Filmography
Denys Arcand has directed many films and documentaries. He has also acted in some movies.
Directed Films
- Alone or With Others (1962)
- Dirty Money (1972)
- Réjeanne Padovani (1973)
- Gina (1975)
- Empire, Inc. (TV miniseries, 1983)
- The Crime of Ovide Plouffe (1984)
- The Decline of the American Empire (1986)
- Jesus of Montreal (1989)
- Love and Human Remains (1993)
- Poverty and Other Delights (1996)
- Stardom (2000)
- The Barbarian Invasions (2003)
- Days of Darkness (2007)
- An Eye for Beauty (2014)
- The Fall of the American Empire (2018)
- Testament (2023)
Documentaries Directed
- Champlain (short film, 1964)
- Cotton Mill, Treadmill (1976, made in 1970)
- Comfort and Indifference (1982)
Acting Roles
- Dirty Money (1972)
- Réjeanne Padovani (1973)
- Jesus of Montreal (1989)
- The Barbarian Invasions (2003)
- Days of Darkness (2007)
- Barney's Version (2010)
See also
In Spanish: Denys Arcand para niños
