Léonard Keigel
Directing
Biography
Léonard Keigel was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer active from the 1960s to the 1980s. Born in Paris, he began his career as an assistant director before making his directorial debut with La morte-saison des amours (1961), starring Annie Girardot. Keigel directed several films, including La Vieille Fille (1972), which featured Philippe Noiret and Annie Girardot, and Le Rempart des Béguines (1972), an adaptation of Françoise Mallet-Joris's novel. His films often explored complex human relationships and societal norms, characterized by their nuanced storytelling and strong performances. Keigel's contributions to French cinema reflect his keen insight into human nature and social dynamics.
Known For
Marcello Mastroianni, Isabelle Adjani, Alain Delon, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen... the biggest stars in cinema were welcomed by Christian Defaye on his show Spécial cinéma. Between intimate confessions from actors and immersion in the world of the greatest filmmakers, Christian Defaye took viewers on a journey into the fascinating world of cinema for nearly thirty years.
Spécial cinéma
An adaptation of Émile Zola’s 1877 masterpiece L’assommoir, the film is an uncompromising depiction of a lowly laundress’s struggles to deal with an alcoholic husband while running her own business.
Gervaise
Marina and her boyfriend have an argument while on a trip in France. While driving with the car among the cliffs, he starts speeding and the car falls into the sea. Marina can jump out of the car, but her boyfriend seems to be drowned. She gets to know his brother and he falls in love with her. But why does she always feel watched? What reasons are behind her strange behaviour anyway? Did she really murder her boyfriend? But is he dead anyway?
The Sensuous Assassin
A gambling countess comes by a secret three card combination that wins her a fortune, but she is allowed to use it only once and not gamble again. She passes on the info twice, and the recipients both die violently. She is warned that if she passes it on again, she too will die. Many years later, a young soldier discovers that the countess has the secret, and he resolves to get it out of her.
The Queen of Spades
In this movie based upon Julian Green's novel, we follow Paul's downfall as he is torn between his love for Angele, a local prostitute, as he finds out too late, and Madame Grosgeorge's love for him.
Dark Journey
In the wake of a heart-wrenching divorce, a young mother turns to her adoring lesbian friend for comfort. They have a brief relationship, but she is unable to face her own probable lesbianism, and soon retreats to the safety of a conventional marriage.