Claude Berri

Claude Berri

Born: July 1, 1934
Died: January 12, 2009
in Paris, France
Claude Berri (1 July 1934 – 12 January 2009) was a French film director, writer, producer, actor and distributor.

Born Claude Beri Langmann in Paris, Berri was the son of Jewish immigrant parents. His mother, Beila (née Bercu), was from Romania, and his father, Hirsch Langmann, was a furrier from Poland. His sister was the screenwriter and editor Arlette Langmann.

Berri won the "Best Film" BAFTA for Jean de Florette, and was also nominated for twelve César Awards, though he never won. Berri also won the Oscar for Best Short Film for Le Poulet at the 38th Academy Awards in 1966, and produced Roman Polanski's Tess which was nominated for Best Picture in 1981.

Internationally, however, two films in 1986 overshadow all his other achievements. Jean de Florette and its sequel Manon des Sources were huge hits. In 1991, his film Uranus was entered into the 41st Berlin International Film Festival. Six years later, his film Lucie Aubrac was entered into the 47th Berlin International Film Festival.

In 2003, he was elected President of the Cinémathèque Française where he obtained enough state subsidies to cover the costs of its resurgence at its new site in the rue de Bercy.

Berri's wife, Anne-Marie Rassam, committed suicide in 1997, jumping from the apartment of Isabelle Adjani's mother. Berri and Rassam had two children: actor Julien Rassam and actor and film producer Thomas Langmann.

Berri died of a stroke, in Paris, aged 74. After his death, a group of nine works by Robert Ryman, Ad Reinhardt, Giorgio Morandi, Richard Serra and Lucio Fontana was promised to the Centre Pompidou in Paris in lieu of tax. But the heirs of the film director finally sold them through French art dealer Philippe Ségalot for about €50 million to Qatar.

Source: Article "Claude Berri" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Claude Berri...

To Be... A Classic
Title: To Be... A Classic
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2012
Type: Movie
Film historian/professor at UCLA Janet Bergstrom and Positif journalist N.T. Bihn discuss To Be or Not to Be and Ernst Lubitsch's career and legacy. The featurette also contains archival footage with Francois Truffaut and Claude Berri.
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On the Trail of the New Wave
Title: On the Trail of the New Wave
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 14, 2009
Type: Movie
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Once Upon a Time... 'Tess'
Title: Once Upon a Time... 'Tess'
Character: Self
Released: March 16, 2007
Type: Movie
Television documentary about the making of Roman Polanski's 1979 film "Tess."
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François Truffaut, une autobiographie
Title: François Truffaut, une autobiographie
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 2004
Type: Movie
A documentary tracing the career of filmmaker François Truffaut through the testimony of collaborators and admirers.
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Tess: The Experience
Title: Tess: The Experience
Character: Self
Released: September 28, 2004
Type: Movie
A documentary that interviews the cast and crew of Roman Polanski's 1979 film "Tess."
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Filming 'Tess'
Title: Filming 'Tess'
Character: Self
Released: September 28, 2004
Type: Movie
Documentary about the making of Roman Polanski's 1979 film "Tess."
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Tess: From Novel to Screen
Title: Tess: From Novel to Screen
Character: Self
Released: September 28, 2004
Type: Movie
Documentary about Roman Polanski's film adaptation of the 1891 novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy.
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Happily Ever After
Title: Happily Ever After
Character: le père de Vincent
Released: August 25, 2004
Type: Movie
Is love compatible with coupledom? And what of freedom and fidelity? These are some of the questions facing two married men.
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The Car Keys
Title: The Car Keys
Character: Self / Un producteur
Released: December 10, 2003
Type: Movie
Who would think losing car keys could lead us that far ? Be careful, adventure is on every street corner...
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Il était une fois... Tchao pantin
Title: Il était une fois... Tchao pantin
Character: Self
Released: May 18, 2003
Type: Movie
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Title: Un film et son époque
Character: Self
Released: May 17, 2003
Type: TV
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Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
Title: Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
Character: Portrait painter of Cléopâtre
Released: January 30, 2002
Type: Movie
The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra bets against the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, that her people are still great, even if the times of the Pharaohs has long passed. She vows (against all logic) to build a new palace for Caesar within three months. Since all her architects are either busy otherwise or too conservative in style, this ambivalent honor falls to Edifis. He is to build the palace and be covered in gold or, if not, his fate is to be eaten by crocodiles. Edifis calls upon an old friend to help him out: The fabulous Druid Getafix from Gaul, who brews a fantastic potion that gives supernatural strength. In order to help and protect the old Druid, Asterix and Obelix accompany him on his journey to Egypt. When Julius Caesar gets wind of the project succeeding, he has the building site attacked by his troops in order to win the bet and not lose face. But just like the local pirates, he hasn't counted on Asterix and Obelix.
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Va Savoir (Who Knows?)
Title: Va Savoir (Who Knows?)
Character: Librarian
Released: September 28, 2001
Type: Movie
After finding love and success in Italy, French actress Camille returns to Paris, the city she fled three years ago. She secretly dreads confronting her ex-boyfriend Pierre. Her new lover Ugo also has a secret, as he’s meeting with the intriguing Dominique while on his quest for an unpublished manuscript.
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Hard Off
Title: Hard Off
Character: Claude Langmann
Released: May 17, 1999
Type: Movie
This French romantic comedy-drama concerns Claude Langmann, a middle-aged auctioneer, who is in a loving marriage with his second wife of 15 years. Though he is deeply in love with his wife and has remained faithful to her, he finds himself unable to perform in bed. His wife says she is satisfied with Claude's love and tenderness, but he visits a sex specialist anyway. There he learns of Viagra, which is not yet approved in France, though it is available in Switzerland over the counter. Soon Claude is on his way to Geneva, and eager to prove his manhood, tries to bed Agnes, his very attractive and very available assistant. His daughter, who also comes along for the trip, interferes with her own problems.
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Title: Vivement dimanche
Character: Self
Released: September 20, 1998
Type: TV
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Un grand cri d'amour
Title: Un grand cri d'amour
Character: André Maillard
Released: January 7, 1998
Type: Movie
A famous couple is going on stage after ten years of separation and hate.
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Didier
Title: Didier
Character: Type aéroport
Released: January 28, 1997
Type: Movie
Jean-Pierre Costa is a football manager upon whom fate appears not to be smiling. First, a friend, Annabelle, dumps a pet Labrador named Didier on him whilst she goes off to make a report in Los Angeles. Next, one of his star players is injured, leaving him one player short for a crucial match. As if things could not get any worse, Costa wakes up one morning to find that that Didier has been transformed into a man...
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The Three Brothers
Title: The Three Brothers
Character: Le Président du tribunal
Released: December 13, 1995
Type: Movie
Three half-brothers are reunited at their mother's funeral. After being told of their inheritance they quickly spend the money, only to find out that they will not receive it after all. The men grow closer while deciding how to proceed.
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The Machine
Title: The Machine
Character: Hugues
Released: May 28, 1994
Type: Movie
This deftly made French psychological thriller terrifies with its exploration of an experiment gone horribly wrong. Dr. Marc Lacroix, a psychiatrist specializing in brain functions, is obsessed with the link between mind and spirit. To find his link he studies the criminally insane. He builds a secret machine, known only to his mistress Marianne, in which he hopes to exchange minds between humans. He simultaneously wants to help the mentally ill recover, and he wants to experience their madness. He chooses the psychotic killer, Zyto, a man who stabbed at least three women, for his experiment. The initial experiment is successful and the two exchange minds. But trouble ensues when Zyto refuses to reverse the switch. There is little Marc can do when Zyto takes over Marc's life, and more ominously his wife and child whom are unknowingly in mortal danger. Marc, encased in Zyto's body, is returned to the asylum. Will Marc's wife recognize the danger? Will Zyto kill again?
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Germinal
Title: Germinal
Character: Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Released: September 29, 1993
Type: Movie
It's mid 19th century, north of France. The story of a coal miner's town. They are exploited by the mine's owner. One day the decide to go on strike, and then the authorities repress them.
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Title: Les Nuls, l'émission
Character: Self
Released: October 13, 1990
Type: TV
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Stan the Flasher
Title: Stan the Flasher
Character: Stan Goldberg
Released: March 7, 1990
Type: Movie
Claude Berri, who usually participates in films by directing them, here returns to the screen as Stan, an over-the-hill lothario, much given to quoting Shakespeare, who occasionally goes around naked under his raincoat and exposes himself to strangers, who are usually not interested in his primitive display of genitalia. It also appears that he is unable to sexually satisfy his much younger lover, and he suspects her of having another boyfriend. He earns his living tutoring students (mostly young girls) in English literature. When, in his frustration, he gropes one of the girls in her home during a tutoring session, she protests, her father (who is at home) beats him up, and he is sentenced to a jail term. There, he is teamed up with a slightly loopy murderer. When he gets out of jail, he finds his girlfriend has left for good, and ends his life.
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Title: Sacrée soirée
Character: Self
Released: September 2, 1987
Type: TV
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Title: Nulle part ailleurs
Character: Self
Released: August 31, 1987
Type: TV
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The Wounded Man
Title: The Wounded Man
Character: Client
Released: May 25, 1983
Type: Movie
Henri is a lonely, isolated young man who lets no one get close to him. He meets a street hustler and comes out of his shell, going 180 degrees into gay obsession. Though he has yet to physically approach the object of his affection, Henri builds up so much unrequited lust that it explodes with horrible results.
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Catherine Deneuve by Chance, or, A Certain Blondeness
Title: Catherine Deneuve by Chance, or, A Certain Blondeness
Character: Self
Released: September 18, 1978
Type: Movie
A documentary interview with the French actress while on the sets of films in production. Several of the directors for whom she has made films are also interviewed
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Male of the Century
Title: Male of the Century
Character: Claude
Released: March 12, 1975
Type: Movie
The wife of an extremely jealous merchant is held hostage by a bank robber.
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Title: Midi Première
Character: Self
Released: January 6, 1975
Type: TV
Midi Première is a French variety show presented by Danièle Gilbert, directed by Jacques Pierre and broadcast from January 6, 1975 until January 1, 1982 on TF1. The program was generally broadcast between 12:15 p.m. and 12:55 p.m., then giving way to the 1:00 p.m. TV news. However, the broadcast schedule could change, depending on the guests, and the setting where the recording of the program was shot. Certain performances by artists who have become cult like the one where Ringo jostles with a demonstrator in interpretation (1977), that of Dalida with the title There is always a song with the soundtrack that does not start, twice, at the right speed (1978), Claude François and his Clodettes, who, in the provinces, are unable to join "the set" in order to interpret his song, the latter being taken by the crowd of delirious fans (summer 1977) . The group Supertramp performed there with the title "Dreamer" on March 8, 1975.
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Title: Spécial cinéma
Character: Self
Released: September 25, 1974
Type: TV
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Sex Shop
Title: Sex Shop
Character: Claude
Released: October 25, 1972
Type: Movie
On the advice of a friend, Claude, married to the charming Isabelle and father of two, decided to transform his library, hardly flourishing, into a sex shop. This change of activity proves to be very lucrative and sharpens his desire to spice up his married life through various erotic experiences. Claude asks his wife to share with him the audacity he dreams of. Soon, the household meets a dentist and his wife and is engaged, without much success, to new discoveries. Isabelle, full of good will, tries to follow her husband ...
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Title: Le Grand Échiquier
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Cadet Rousselle
Character: Self
Released: November 4, 1971
Type: TV
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Le Cinema de Papa
Title: Le Cinema de Papa
Character: Claude Langmann adulte
Released: February 10, 1971
Type: Movie
Claude Berri plays himself as he relates his own experiences through youth and adolescence. His father owns a profitable fur shop. Initially, Claude's father hopes his son will take over the fur shop, but he later gives in to Claude's desire to become involved in filmmaking.
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The Man with Connections
Title: The Man with Connections
Released: April 15, 1970
Type: Movie
Following "The Two of Us", Claude is now 21 years old. Content with his life, he has a girlfriend Tania and he aspires to become an actor. When he receives his draft notice, a friend convinces Claude he can get out of military service with his connections in Paris. When the connections fall through, Claude is sent for basic training outside Paris before being shipped off to Algeria. His stops in Morocco and Algeria are uneventful as far as military action goes. He returns home with few bad memories of his army life ...
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Marry Me! Marry Me!
Title: Marry Me! Marry Me!
Character: Claude
Released: September 18, 1968
Type: Movie
Claude and Isabella met on a beach one summer and got easily involved. But while he has dreams of settling down with a family, she just wants to have fun. When Isabelle becomes pregnant, Claude is advised by both families to marry but things get more complicated when he meets an English woman.
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Line of Demarcation
Title: Line of Demarcation
Character: Chef de famille juif
Released: May 25, 1966
Type: Movie
It is based on upon the memoir Mémoires d'un agent secret de la France libre et La Ligne de démarcation by Gilbert Renault under his pseudonym Colonel Rémy. A small village in the Jura is split by the river Loue which creates the line of demarcation between Nazi occupied France and freedom. A French officer, Pierre, is released by the Nazi soldiers to find his chateau converted into a German command centre. Whilst he is obliged to co-operate with the enemy, his wife Mary supports the resistance movement and is willing to risk her life for it. The Nazis step up their activity against the resistance, insisting that any who attempt to cross the line of demarcation will be shot. When his wife is arrested, Pierre decides to switch his allegiance.
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The Sleeping Car Murder
Title: The Sleeping Car Murder
Character: Un porteur à la gare de Lyon (non crédité)
Released: November 17, 1965
Type: Movie
Six people travel by train overnight from Marseilles to Paris. When the train arrives at its destination, one of the passengers, a girl, is found dead in a sleeping berth. The police led by Inspector Grazzi investigate the other five passengers, suspecting that one of them was responsible. However, as the investigation is stepped up, the other passengers start turning up dead. It is then up to the last remaining two to solve the case, before they become the next victims.
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The Seven Deadly Sins
Title: The Seven Deadly Sins
Character: André (segment "L'avarice'") (uncredited)
Released: March 7, 1962
Type: Movie
Seven directors each dramatize one of the seven deadly sins in a short film. In "Anger," a domestic argument over a fly in the Sunday soup escalates into nuclear war. In "Sloth," a movie star would rather pay someone to tie his shoe than bend over to do it himself, and he can't be bothered to accept a starlet's sexual favors. In "Gluttony," a peasant family on its way to the funeral of a relative who died from indigestion stops regularly to eat and drink en route, arriving in time to eat some more. In "Greed," a high-class prostitute refunds the price of a cadet's lottery ticket. In "Pride," an unfaithful wife finds reason to reform. And so on through lust and envy.
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Greed
Title: Greed
Character: André (uncredited)
Released: March 7, 1962
Type: Movie
A group of university students in Paris dream of a night of love with Suzon, whose rates are staggering. To raise the money, they organize a lottery among themselves so that at least the winner will enact their fantasy.
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Janine
Title: Janine
Character: Claude
Released: January 1, 1962
Type: Movie
Two men are disappointed by women and united by a whore
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Please, Not Now!
Title: Please, Not Now!
Character: Bernard
Released: April 19, 1961
Type: Movie
A sexy model pretends to have a new boyfriend in a wacky plan to make her ex-lover jealous.
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My Baby Is Black!
Title: My Baby Is Black!
Character: Dauber
Released: March 1, 1961
Type: Movie
Black and white unite and are confronted with hatred in two color-line-busting classics from the classic years of exploitation.
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The Truth
Title: The Truth
Character: Georges
Released: November 2, 1960
Type: Movie
As Dominique Marceau is being tried for the murder of Gilbert Tellier, accounts by different witnesses paint a picture of the kind of relationship the two used to share.
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Zazie dans le Métro
Title: Zazie dans le Métro
Character: Waiter (uncredited)
Released: October 28, 1960
Type: Movie
A brash and precocious ten-year-old comes to Paris for a whirlwind weekend with her rakish uncle.
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The Good Girls
Title: The Good Girls
Character: André, young soldier
Released: April 22, 1960
Type: Movie
Four Parisian women navigate the world of romance and daily life looking to fulfill their dreams.
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I Spit on Your Grave
Title: I Spit on Your Grave
Character: David
Released: June 26, 1959
Type: Movie
Joe Grant, a light-skinned African American, heads to a small Southern town to investigate the lynching death of his brother. He draws the attention of a gorgeous heiress whom he learns may have been involved in the killing.
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Asphalt
Title: Asphalt
Character: Band Boy (uncredited)
Released: February 18, 1959
Type: Movie
Françoise Arnould plays here a married woman who decides one day to get away from her husband and return to her childhood place, where she meets all her former friends, and lovers.
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Dangerous Games
Title: Dangerous Games
Character: Un jeune
Released: December 19, 1958
Type: Movie
Alain is the only son of a wealthy bourgeois couple. He takes violin lessons in Ménilmontant, where he is spotted by Fleur, a poor girl: she is going to kidnap him and demand a ransom from the young man's parents, money which will be used to pay for a good lawyer for her brother accused of killing a policeman.
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French Cancan
Title: French Cancan
Character: Un jeune homme à l'inauguration (uncredited)
Released: April 27, 1955
Type: Movie
Nineteenth-century Paris comes vibrantly alive in Jean Renoir’s exhilarating tale of the opening of the world-renowned Moulin Rouge. Jean Gabin plays the wily impresario Danglard, who makes the cancan all the rage while juggling the love of two beautiful women—an Egyptian belly-dancer and a naive working girl turned cancan star.
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Good Lord Without Confession
Title: Good Lord Without Confession
Character: Le fils d'Eugène
Released: October 9, 1953
Type: Movie
Stuck in a loveless marriage, bourgeois industrialist Francois falls in love with Janine, another man's wife. Francois sets up Janine as his mistress, and she, mercenary soul that she is, likes the set-up so much that she continues the relationship even when her own husband returns from WW II. In the long run, however, Janine is the loser in the situation.
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Rue de l'Estrapade
Title: Rue de l'Estrapade
Released: April 14, 1953
Type: Movie
While Henri Laurent speeds along on the racing circuits, his pretty wife Françoise goes from luxury boutique to luxury boutique with her best friend Denise. One day, Denise lets her know that Henri has a lover. Outraged, Françoise moves out of marital home and rents a maids' room in Rue de l'Estrapade. Henri tries to get his wife back but Françoise does not listen. She even looks for a job in a prêt-à-porter shop and lets herself be courted by Robert, her neighbor across the landing...