Patrice Leconte

Patrice Leconte is one of the most renowned French directors of his time. In 1976, he directed his first feature film, The Toilets Were Closed from the Inside, starring Coluche and Jean Rochefort. In 1978 he directed the twoparter French Fried Vacation, featuring actors such as Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot, and Michel Blanc, which brought him immediate popular success. However, it was at the turn of the 90s, with works such as Monsieur Hire (1989) and The Hairdresser’s Husband (1990), that he won over the critics with a great cast including actors such as Jean Rochefort and Anna Galiena. In 1996, Ridicule, featuring Charles Berling and Fanny Ardant, really catapulted him onto the international scene, earning him an Oscar nomination. In that same year he also worked with Philippe Noiret and Jean-Pierre Marielle on The Big Dukes. This was followed by such acclaimed dramas as Girl on the Bridge (1999) and The Man on the Train (2002), starring some of the most celebrated figures in French cinema. More recently, in 2022 he enjoyed another great success with Maigret, played remarkably by Gérard Depardieu. He is undoubtedly a key figure in French cinema and is active also as a screenwriter and producer. Outside of cinema Leconte has worked as a cartoonist and a writer, with books published by Albin Michel (Le Garçon qui n’existait pas 2013) and Arthaud (Monsieur Bouboule 2021). He has also directed several theatre productions.