Francois Truffaut

Date of Birth: February 6, 1932

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: October 21, 1984

Biography

François Truffaut was a seminal French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic, born on February 6, 1932, in Paris, France. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave, a movement that revolutionized cinema in the late 1950s and 1960s. Truffaut’s passion for film began at an early age, leading him to start the influential film magazine “Cahiers du Cinéma,” where he became a prominent critic. His directorial debut, “The 400 Blows” (1959), is considered a cornerstone of the New Wave movement and was an autobiographical piece that introduced the character Antoine Doinel, who would appear in several of Truffaut’s subsequent films. Truffaut’s work is noted for its innovative techniques, emotional depth, and exploration of human relationships. Some of his other acclaimed films include “Jules and Jim” (1962), “Fahrenheit 451” (1966), and “Day for Night” (1973), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Throughout his career, Truffaut directed over 25 films and remained active in the cinematic community until his death on October 21, 1984, from a brain tumor. His contributions to film continue to influence filmmakers and cinephiles around the world.

5 Interesting Facts about Francois Truffaut

1. Truffaut was expelled from multiple schools as a child and had a tumultuous relationship with his mother, which influenced his portrayal of troubled youth in his films.

2. He served in the French Army but deserted and was subsequently imprisoned for a brief period.

3. François Truffaut was a protégé of André Bazin, a renowned film critic and theorist, who played a significant role in his development as a filmmaker.

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

5. He was a lifelong admirer of Alfred Hitchcock and even wrote a comprehensive book-length interview with him, titled “Hitchcock/Truffaut.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Francois Truffaut

1. “A film is never really good unless the camera is an eye in the head of a poet.”

2. “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.”

3. “I demand that a film express either the joy of making cinema or the agony of making cinema. I am not at all interested in anything in between.”

4. “The film of tomorrow appears to me as even more personal than an individual and autobiographical novel, like a confession or a diary.”

5. “In love, women are professionals, men are amateurs.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

François Truffaut’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $20 million at the peak of his career.

Children

François Truffaut had three children: Laura Truffaut and Eva Truffaut with his first wife Madeleine Morgenstern, and Josephine Truffaut with his partner, French actress Fanny Ardant.