Jean-Claude Lauzon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean-Claude Lauzon
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Lauzon in the 1990s
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| Born | September 29, 1953 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Died | August 10, 1997 (aged 43) Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada
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| Occupation | Filmmaker, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1979–1997 |
Jean-Claude Lauzon (born September 29, 1953 – died August 10, 1997) was a talented Canadian filmmaker and writer. He grew up in Montreal, Quebec. Jean-Claude left high school early and worked many different jobs. Later, he decided to study film at the Université du Québec à Montréal.
He made two main movies: Night Zoo (1987) and Léolo (1992). These films made him one of the most important Canadian directors of his time. A famous American film critic, Roger Ebert, said that Lauzon put a lot of feeling and passion into everything he created.
His film Léolo is often called one of the best Canadian films ever made. It was even nominated for the Palme d'Or award at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. Time magazine also put Léolo on its list of the 100 greatest films.
Sadly, Jean-Claude Lauzon's career ended too soon. He died in a plane crash in 1997 when he was 43 years old.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Jean-Claude Lauzon was born into a regular family in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. After leaving high school, he took on various temporary jobs. Later, a friend named Andre Petrowski, who worked for the National Film Board of Canada, encouraged him to study film. So, Jean-Claude went to the Université du Québec à Montréal to learn about filmmaking.
His Filmmaking Career
While studying at the Université du Québec à Montréal, Jean-Claude Lauzon started making films using 16mm film. This was a smaller, more portable type of film often used for independent movies.
Early Short Films
His first short film was called Super Maire. It won a special award, the Norman McLaren Grand Prize, at the Canadian Student Film Festival in 1979. His second short film, Piwi, also won an award. It received the Jury Prize at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1981. He started working on Piwi while spending time at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.
Directing Feature Films
In 1983, Lauzon began writing his first full-length movie, Night Zoo. But he spent most of the 1980s directing TV commercials. He also earned his pilot's licence during this time.
Eventually, he directed Night Zoo, which was his first feature film. It was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and was liked by many critics. A reviewer from The Globe and Mail newspaper, Jay Scott, said that Night Zoo was a movie of "extremes" that explored many emotions. The film won a record-breaking 13 Genie Awards in 1988. It also won the Golden Reel Award for being the highest-earning Canadian film that year.
Lauzon became even more famous with his second full-length film, Léolo. This movie was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. Léolo won three Genie Awards and was very popular in Canada and Europe. It is often called one of the best Canadian films ever. Time magazine even put Léolo on its list of the 100 greatest films of all time.
After making these two successful films, Lauzon mostly directed commercials. He also spent a lot of time in northern Quebec. He enjoyed flying his Cessna 180 Skywagon plane, fishing, and hunting.
His Unique Style
The magazine Playback wrote that Jean-Claude Lauzon's films were often like his own life story. People who worked with him said he was a very creative and intense person. They also mentioned that making films was a difficult process for him. Film critic Roger Ebert noted that Lauzon put all his feelings and desires into his movies, making them very passionate.
His Untimely Death
Jean-Claude Lauzon was getting ready to make his third feature film when he died. He passed away with his girlfriend, Canadian actress Marie-Soleil Tougas, in a plane crash. On August 10, 1997, the Cessna 180 Skywagon plane he was flying crashed into a mountainside. This happened near Kuujjuaq, Quebec, during strong winds and rain. They were returning from a fishing trip. Jean-Claude Lauzon was 43 years old when he died. He was buried in a private ceremony.
Filmography
- Super Maire (1979), a short film
- Piwi (1981), a short film
- Night Zoo also known as Un zoo la nuit (1987), a feature film
- Léolo (1992), a feature film
See also
In Spanish: Jean-Claude Lauzon para niños
