Bertrand Tavernier (French pronunciation: [bɛʁtʁɑ̃ tavɛʁnje]; 25 April 1941 – 25 March 2021) was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer.
Life and career
Tavernier was born in Lyon, France, the son of Geneviève (née Dumond) and René Tavernier, a publicist and writer, several years president of the French PEN club. He said his father's publishing of a wartime resistance journal and aid to anti-Nazi intellectuals shaped his moral outlook as an artist. According to Tavernier, his father believed that words were "as important and as lethal as bullets".
Tavernier's politics were influenced by the 1968 general strike in France. He was particularly struck by the writing of Leon Trotsky and associated with the OCI between 1973 and 1975.
Tavernier aspired to become a filmmaker from the time he was 13 or 14 years old. He cited John Ford, William Wellman, Jean Renoir, Jean Vigo and Jacques Becker as among his cinematic influences. He entered the film industry as a publicist, where he worked for Jean-Pierre Melville and Jean-Luc Godard. Later, his first film (The Clockmaker, 1974) won the Prix Louis Delluc and the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize award at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival.
Tavernier's early films were often mysteries and thrillers that carried a social critique, such as The Judge and the Assassin (1976) and Coup de Torchon (1981), while his later work is characterized by a more overt social commentary, highlighting his left-wing views (Life and Nothing But (1989), Captain Conan (1996)) and presenting a critical picture of contemporary French society (It All Starts Today (1999), Histoires de vies brisées : les double-peine de Lyon (2001)).
Honours and awards
In 1986, his film Round Midnight won two César Awards (Best Original Music and Best Sound), the Best Film Award at the Venice Film Festival and the Oscar for Best Music (Original Score) at the 1987 Academy Awards.
His film Life and Nothing But won the BAFTA for best film in a language other than English in 1990 and several César Awards, amongst others.
In 1995, his film L'Appât won the Golden Bear Award at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival. Four years later, his film It All Starts Today won an Honourable Mention at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival.
His film The Princess of Montpensier competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
Tavernier was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 42nd International Film Festival of India in Goa for his outstanding achievements and work in the film industry.
Personal life
Tavernier was married to screenwriter Colo Tavernier O'Hagan from 1965 to 1981. They had two children. Their son, Nils Tavernier (born 1 September 1965), works as both a director and actor. Their daughter, Tiffany Tavernier (born in 1967), is a novelist, screenwriter and assistant director.
Death
Tavernier died on 25 March 2021 at age 79.
Filmography
Short film
Documentary film
TV movie
Les enfants de Thiès (2001)
Feature film
Other credits