Francois Truffaut

Date of Birth: February 6, 1932

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: October 21, 1984

Biography

François Roland Truffaut was a French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic, widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. Born on February 6, 1932, in Paris, Truffaut had a troubled childhood, often skipping school and indulging in petty crimes. His love for cinema began at an early age, and he often sought solace in movie theaters. Truffaut’s career in film began as a critic for the influential magazine “Cahiers du Cinéma,” where he championed auteur theory, which posited that directors were the true authors of their films. His directorial debut, “The 400 Blows” (“Les Quatre Cents Coups”) in 1959, was a critical and commercial success, earning him the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. This film was the first in a series of semi-autobiographical films centered on the character Antoine Doinel, played by Jean-Pierre Léaud. Throughout his career, Truffaut directed over 25 films, including “Jules and Jim” (1962), “Fahrenheit 451” (1966), and “Day for Night” (1973), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Truffaut’s work is characterized by its exploration of complex emotional and romantic relationships, its innovative narrative techniques, and its homage to the art of filmmaking itself. Truffaut passed away on October 21, 1984, at the age of 52, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence filmmakers and cinephiles around the world.

5 Interesting Facts about Francois Truffaut

1. François Truffaut was expelled from several schools and spent a brief period in a reform school as a teenager.

2. He served in the French Army but deserted, leading to a brief imprisonment.

3. Truffaut was a protégé of the famous film critic André Bazin, who helped him start his career in cinema.

4. He made a cameo appearance in Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977) as scientist Claude Lacombe.

5. Truffaut won the Cannes Film Festival Best Director award for his debut film, “The 400 Blows.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Francois Truffaut

1. “I demand that a film express either the joy of making cinema or the agony of making cinema.”

2. “When humor can be made to alternate with melancholy, one has a success, but when one proceeds as if humor were inconceivable, one has a disaster.”

3. “Film lovers are sick people.”

4. “The film of tomorrow will be an act of love.”

5. “Three films a day, three books a week and records of great music would be enough to make me happy to the day I die.”