French director Michel Hazanavicius has come into the spotlight for his work on The Artist, as well as some other films. He mainly focuses on niche topics, and broaches subjects that other directors have not. For example, he recently released the film Redoubtable, which follows the life of famous French director Jean-Luc Godard — the key player in the French New Wave movement of cinematography. Hazanavicius has created spy film parodies, wartime dramas, and offbeat comedies during his directing career. Though most of his films have only seen modest success, after his Academy Award win in 2011 the director has achieved more recognition and a decent following. The man himself is interesting, and has a particular and unmatched signature style.
If you want to know more about the bohemian director, read on to find out about Five Things You Didn’t Know About Michel Hazanavicius:
He Won the First Oscar in 88 Years for a Silent Film
Hazanavicius rose to the limelight when he won Best Picture for the 2011 film, The Artist. This film was a black-and-white silent film set in the 1920s. It follows the fall of silent film star George Valentin, juxtaposed with the rise of his muse Peppy Miller — a ‘talkie’ star. The film was quite well received, with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well as critical acclaim.
The last black-and-white film to win the Oscar for Best Picture was Schindler’s List. However, this movie did make limited use of color. The Apartment, released in 1960, was fully black-and-white. However, the last black-and-white silent film to win Best Picture was Wings, back at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929! Nearly a century separated this film and The Artist. Hazanavicius winning Best Picture with a film of this nature in the 21st Century is truly a testament to his directing skills!
He Was Invited to the Academy
Not only did this director win an Oscar, but he is now a part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He and his wife, Bérénice Bejo, were invited to the Academy back in 2012. This occurred only shortly after the Oscar ceremony in February, with invitations going out in June. It is not surprising that he was invited to join this prestigious professional organization, with his considerable directing talent. Plus, his wife is a fantastic actress that could not be more deserving of this invitation!
He Directed His Wife to an Oscar Nomination
Speaking of Bérénice Bejo, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Artist. This makes Michel Hazanavicius only the seventh director ever to lead their wife to an Oscar nomination. The last time this happened was in 1996, with director Joel Coen directing his wife Frances McDormand to a Best Actress win for her work in Fargo. The synergy that Hazanavicius and his wife emanate when they work together will surely lead them to great things in the future. We wouldn’t be surprised if they are nominated for — and maybe will even win — many more Academy Awards as their respective careers grow.
He Shoots on Film
In the modern filmmaking world, the majority of movies are shot with digital cameras. However, Michel Hazanavicius prefers the warmth and “historic” feel of shooting on film. In an interview from May 2017, director was talking about his medium choice regarding his Cannes Festival showing, Redoubtable. He mentioned that he was inspired by the subject of the film, Jean-Luc Godard, to use a particular aspect ratio (1:85). He mentions that this was meant to cause the viewer to feel as if they were inside Godard’s world, without being a prisoner. Thus, Hazanavicius’ choice of medium is more than just an aesthetic choice — it is an artistic statement!
He Wants a Say in the Script
Following the success of The Artist, many studios have offered Michel Hazanavicius directing roles. However, according to another post-Cannes interview, he will not take any projects that only require him to be an acting director. He wants to be a part of the scriptwriting process. Though he has accepted two films — one from Disney, and one from Paramount — he has stated that he likely wouldn’t direct a film from an established franchise. In fact, he was even offered a directing position for a Marvel-esque French blockbuster. He declined the offer. Though he didn’t state a reason for doing so, it is likely that the script was too set-in-stone for this director’s liking.
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