Michel Deville

Michel Deville, born on April 13, 1931, was a notable French film director and screenwriter whose career began in the late 1950s, coinciding with the rise of the French New Wave. While he may not have reached the same level of acclaim as contemporaries like François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, Deville carved out a niche for himself with a more conventional filmmaking style that resonated with audiences in France.

His films, particularly the comedies of the 1970s and 1980s, garnered popularity, with 'La Lectrice' (The Reader) standing out as his most successful work internationally. The film, featuring Miou-Miou, tells the story of a woman who finds herself in a peculiar situation, reading novels for the blind while attracting a unique clientele of fetishists.

Deville's contributions to cinema were recognized at prestigious events, including the Berlin International Film Festival, where his film 'Le Voyage en douce' was showcased in 1980, followed by 'Death in a French Garden' five years later. His earlier work, 'Benjamin,' also made its mark, with a clip featured in Robert Bresson's 'Une Femme Douce.'

Despite facing challenges in distribution, particularly in North America, by two thousand and seven, several of his films became available on DVD, allowing a new audience to appreciate his work. Michel Deville passed away on February 16, 2023, at the age of ninety-one, leaving behind a legacy of unique storytelling in French cinema.