'Legendary' director Berri dies

French director and producer Claude Berri, best known for Jean de Florette, has died of a stroke at the age of 74.

He passed away in a Paris hospital, where he was admitted on Saturday.

Known as the "godfather" of French film, Berri worked with generations of top French actors and won an Oscar for his 1963 short film Le Poulet.

His work includes the two-part saga on life in Provence, Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. President Nicolas Sarkozy callled him "legendary".

Born Claude Langmann to working-class parents in Paris, he started his cinematic career as an actor but gave it up to concentrate on making short films.
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36 Quai des Orfèvres

... and on the topic of things French - I watched 36 Quai des Orfèvres last night.

The film takes place in Paris, where two cops (Auteuil and Depardieu) are
competing for the vacant seat of Chief of Police while in the middle of a search
for a gang of violent thieves. The movie is directed by a former police officer
who spent twelve years in the French police before creating this story, which in
part is taken from real facts that happened during the eighties in France.
36 Quai des Orfèvres is the address of the French equivalent of Scotland Yard. wikipedia

It is another great film (well what do you expect with Auteuil and Depardieu both starring in it?) but I see that once again the americans have decided to do a remake with George Clooney, so I would recommend that you watch the original before they bring out the much inferior version.

What is it with the americans that they have to copy all the best French (or foreign) films - why can't they think of something original themselves?

examples: Nikita, Taxi, La Cage aux Folles, La Jetée, The Disappearance, The Seven Samurai, The Grudge , Ringu - I'm sure you can probably name a few more.

Quand j'etais chanteur

I went to see another terrific French film tonight at QFT - 'The Singer' (Quand j'etais chanteur), starring Gerard Depardieu. Depardieu is brilliant as the aging dance hall singer who falls in love with the younger woman. The performances and direction are superb - flawless even - capturing the atmosphere of the old crooner and his adoring public. Not to be missed.