HNC Photography, IFC - Coursework, Introduction to Film Culture Blog, Part two - Love and Lust, Project 3 - A star is born
Juliette Binoche – the auteur cinema star
It just takes a few seconds to glance over the filmography of French actress Juliette Binoche to realise that she has managed within her career to transcend seamlessly not only between European (French) cinema and Hollywood but also between art house and blockbuster. It is rare that any actor does either of these feats; to do both is exceptional.
Her diverse filmography has made it possible to substitute her into the popular drinking game “6 degrees of Kevin Bacon” for the ubiquitous Mr Bacon; however, it would be harder game as your knowledge of world cinema would need to be encyclopaedic.
Starting her career in the 1980’s, along with a batch of other French actresses such as Beatrice Dalle, Sophie Marceau, Sandrine Bonnaire. Binoche has, I mentioned in the introduction, managed to maintain a truly international career. Seeming to work with directors at just the right moment, so that they can marry their styles to together to propel each other forward. For example helping the arthouse “Unbearable Likeness of Being” become something of an unexpected breakout blockbuster.
She has won awards for Hollywood studio movies such as the “the English Patient” in the late 1990’s and more crossover films such a “Chocolat” in 2000. And he masterly raw performance of the grieving widow in Kieslowski’s “Three Colour: Blue” helping to bring the Polish director to a more international audience.
Her talents as an actress have made her an unsung kingmaker of on modern world cinema. A true icon of film and a French cultural export, capable of playing a nuclear scientist on the trail of Godzilla to grieving widow and mother trying to process her new life.
Juliette Binoche in Flight of the Red Balloon, Blue, Certified Copy, Caché, and Summer Hours.