About
Jean Renoir (1894-1979), son of painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, is one of the most influential directors in film history. After serving in World War I, he turned to ceramics before making his first film in 1924. His major works, La Grande Illusion (1937) and The Rules of the Game (1939), are considered masterpieces. He worked in France, the United States, and India, exploring humanist and social themes. He received an Honorary Oscar in 1975 and was made Commander of the Legion of Honor.
* 1894-09-15 — † 1979-02-12
Major works
- La Fille de l'eau (1924)film
- Toni (1935)film
- La Grande Illusion (1937)film
- La Règle du jeu (1939)film
- The River (1951)film
Key milestones
- 1937La Grande Illusion wins the Jury Cup at the Venice Film Festival.
- 1945The Southerner earns him a Best Director Oscar nomination.
- 1975Receives an Honorary Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Themes
humanismsocial critiquepoetic realismnature and environmenttheater and illusion
Sources: britannica.com · production-gcp.moma.org · cinema.ucla.edu