Photo: GERMANY, Berlin : French director Claude Chabrol pretends to film with his trophy after being awarded the Berlinale Camera prize in 2009.
The Berlinale was deeply saddened to hear of the death of the great French director Claude Chabrol. As one of the founders of the Nouvelle Vague, he ranked among the most celebrated and productive filmmakers of French cinema. He made 71 films over the 50 years of his career.
Nine of his films were presented at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 1959, he first participated in the Berlinale with his second feature film Les cousins (The Cousins), which won the Golden Bear. In more recent years, his entries to the Berlinale Competition included La fleur du mal (The Flower of Evil, 2003) and L’ivresse du pouvoir (A Comedy of Power, 2006). Claude Chabrol was invited to the Berlinale in 2009 to screen Bellamy. On this occasion, he was awarded the Berlinale Camera for his impressive oeuvre and remarkable contribution to film.
Photo: A scene from Claude Chabrol’s 58th film “Bellamy”.
Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick says of Claude Chabrol’s death: “We have lost a superb director, a critical mind and a bon vivant. In his psychological dramas and crime films, he relentlessly cast a critical eye on the bourgeoisie. Claude Chabrol was full of humour, and knew how to mix social criticism with fun and entertainment. Known for being a gourmet, he also attached great importance to excellent cooking for himself and his team when shooting his films.”
Press Office
September 13, 2010