The world has lost two of the most important filmmakers of our
time in less than a year. First Eric Rohmer on January 11th,
2010, and September 12th, 2010, Claude Chabrol.
Born on June 24, 1930, in Paris, France, Mr. Chabrol was one of
the founders of the so called 'French New Wave Movement' along
with his literary partners on the French Film Magazine Cashiers
du Cinema; Jean Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, and Jacques
Rivette, among others.
Inspired by German Expressionism, Existentialism, stroboscopic
lighting, Surrealism, Freudian psychology, poetic devices, long
takes, cutting not on action but shooting for the coverage of
aesthetic, the jump cut, and more, French New Wave, with the help
filmmakers including Claude Chabrol, elevated the craft of cinema
to greater heights of its art, and ushered in the auteur theory
stronger than ever, where the director and their style is king,
not necessarily the story. This style paved the way for American
filmmakers to become more daring and creative in their work, and
demand and often get greater artistic license.
With over one hundred film and video credits to his name, Claude
Chabrol gave cinemaphiles good reason to consider him a master,
with his magnificent works including "Madame Bovary,' 'High
Heels,' ‘Les Cousins,’ and 'Les Biches,' among many,
many more. A master of mystery, storytelling, and light through
the art of film, the wonder of Claude Chabrol; actor, music
producer, and above all, legendary writer and director, worked
his magic up until the last days of his life this year at eighty.
His legacy will remain always.