Jacques Audiard

Jacques Audiard's films portray disabled, marginalized, or otherwise non-normative bodies in constant states of crisis and transformation, exploring how they construct and transcend boundaries of many forms.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 200 pages
\n Publication date: 08 June 2021
\n Publisher: Manchester University Press
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Jacques Audiard is a filmmaker who creates films that explore the complexities of disabled, marginalized, or otherwise non-normative bodies. His work portrays these bodies in constant states of crisis and transformation. Audiard's films are characterized by a blend of fragility and power, masculinity and transgression.

Audiard's background as a screenwriter is an important aspect of his filmmaking. He has collaborated with a number of talented writers, including Guillaume Laurant, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Thomas Lilti, to create films that are both visually stunning and emotionally powerful. One of the key themes in Audiard's work is the motif of border-crossing, both physical and symbolic. This motif is explored in a number of his films, including "The Beat That My Heart Skipped," "A Prophet," and "Dheepan."

In "The Beat That My Heart Skipped," the main character, Tom, is a young man with a heart condition who is forced to navigate the complexities of French society. He is marginalized by his condition and struggles to find a place for himself in the world. The film explores the themes of identity, belonging, and the search for meaning in a society that often rejects those who are different.

In "A Prophet," the main character, Malik, is a young Arab man who is arrested and sent to a French prison. He is forced to navigate the brutal world of the prison and to adapt to the ways of the French criminal underworld. The film explores the themes of power, corruption, and the consequences of social inequality.

In "Dheepan," the main character, Srikanth, is a Tamil man who is recruited by a French military unit to fight in the Sri Lankan Civil War. He is forced to navigate the complex political and social dynamics of the war zone and to adapt to the ways of the French military. The film explores the themes of displacement, identity, and the search for a home.

Audiard's films also explore the representation of the physical body in French society. In "The Beat That My Heart Skipped," Tom's heart condition is used as a metaphor for the fragility of the human body and the challenges that people face in navigating the complexities of life. In "A Prophet," Malik's physical strength and resilience are used as a contrast to the powerlessness of his circumstances. In "Dheepan," Srikanth's physical transformation as he adapts to the ways of the French military is used as a symbol of his journey of self-discovery.

Audiard's films also occupy a space both within and beyond the imaginary of French cinema. While his films are deeply rooted in the traditions of French cinema, they also incorporate elements of other genres, such as drama, comedy, and thriller. This blend of genres allows Audiard to create films that are both accessible and challenging, and that appeal to a wide range of audiences.

In conclusion, Jacques Audiard is a filmmaker who creates films that explore the complexities of disabled, marginalized, or otherwise non-normative bodies. His work portrays these bodies in constant states of crisis and transformation, and is characterized by a blend of fragility and power, masculinity and transgression. Audiard's films occupy a space both within and beyond the imaginary of French cinema, and are deeply rooted in the traditions of French cinema while also incorporating elements of other genres. His films are a testament to the power of cinema to explore the human experience and to challenge the boundaries of what is possible.

\n Weight: 318g\n
Dimension: 134 x 211 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526133007\n \n