The Pornographer
This first Canadian retrospective of the cinema of Bertrand Bonello, co-presented with the FNC on the occasion of the premiere of his new film La bête, offers a glimpse into one of the most singular and inventive universes of contemporary auteur cinema. Many of the films on the program have never been seen before in Quebec.
A worn-out porn director dealing with passing time. Jean-Pierre Léaud’s world-weary humanity in an iconic performance.
Bertrand Bonello
Bertrand Bonello was born in 1968 in Nice. He's a versatile artist, working as a director, producer, screenwriter, and composer, seamlessly transitioning between music and cinema. His journey began in 1996 with a documentary titled Who I Am, inspired by Pier Paolo Pasolini. His directorial debut, Something Organic (1998), premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. The Pornographer (2001), featuring Jean-Pierre Léaud, made waves at the Cannes Critics' Week, clinching the FIPRESCI Prize. The Directors' Fortnight showcased On War in 2008. House of Tolerance (2011) competed at Cannes and earned eight César nominations. Saint Laurent (2014), also a Cannes contender, garnered ten César nominations. In the same year, he curated an exhibition at the Pompidou Center and released the album Accidents. He's maintained a steady stream of short films and musical endeavors, with notable entries like Cindy, the Doll is Mine (2005) at Cannes, and My New Picture (2007), Where the Boys Are (2010), and Ingrid Caven: Music and Voice (2012) at Locarno. In 2019, the Directors' Fortnight featured his film Zombi Child. Coma (2022) competed at the Berlinale's Encounters section, earning the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize. The Beast (2023) is his latest film.
Bio: Maison4tiers
Photo: Carole Bethuel
Presented in collaboration with
