′The Tin Drum′ and other iconic films by Jean-Claude Carriere | All media content | DW | 09.02.2021

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Film

'The Tin Drum' and other iconic films by Jean-Claude Carriere

The legendary French screenwriter has died at the age of 89. From "Cyrano de Bergerac" to "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being," here are some of his most famous works.

  • Film still 'The Tin Drum'

    'The Tin Drum' (1979)

    Based on the novel of Nobel Prize laureate Günter Grass, the film directed by Volker Schlöndorff won Cannes' Palme d'Or and Germany's first Oscar for best foreign film. As a co-writer of the screenplay, Jean-Claude Carriere contributed to the success of this film classic.

  • Film still 'Belle de Jour' with Catherine Deneuve on a bed

    'Belle de Jour' (1967)

    Starring Catherine Deneuve as a young woman who works a prostitute while her husband is not at home, the film by Spanish enfant terrible Luis Bunuel, co-written with Carriere, gained renown for its shocking sadomasochist scenes. It also won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1967.

  • Film still 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'

    'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' (1972)

    Carriere and Bunuel spent many years collaborating on screenplays, leading to other acclaimed works such as "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie." The film tells the story of a group of bourgeois people attempting to dine together — but the gathering is constantly interrupted for absurd reasons. It won the Academy Award for best foreign language film and a nomination for best screenplay.

  • Film still 'The Swimming Pool' with Alain Delon and Romy Schneider

    'The Swimming Pool' (1969)

    An atmosphere of erotic languor turns into horror in the Italian-French psychological thriller film "La Piscine," directed by Jacques Deray and co-written by Carriere. The stars of the film, Romy Schneider, Alain Delon and Jane Birkin, contribute to the movie's cult status.

  • Film still 'Cyrano de Bergerac' Gerard Depardieu as Cyrano, Anne Brochet as Roxane

    'Cyrano de Bergerac' (1990)

    Based on the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand, the comedy-drama memorably starred Gerard Depardieu in the role of a poet and swashbuckler with a huge nose. The film won many awards; among other distinctions, Jean-Claude Carriere and Jean-Paul Rappeneau's adapted screenplay was nominated for a BAFTA film award.

  • Film still 'The Unbearable Lightness Of Being' with Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche

    'The Unbearable Lightness Of Being' (1988)

    Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche, this film is based on the same-titled novel by Milan Kundera. The exploration of intellectual and artistic life during the Prague Spring was praised for artfully blending the political and the erotic. Jean-Claude Carriere and Philip Kaufman were nominated for an Oscar for best adapted screenplay.

  • Film still 'At Eternity's Gate': Willem Dafoe as Vincent van Gogh

    'At Eternity's Gate'

    Working up until his death on February 8, 2020, at the age of 89, Jean-Claude Carriere contributed to more than 150 screenplays. Among his most recent award-winning works is "At Eternity's Gate," directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Willem Dafoe as Vincent van Gogh.


  • Film still 'The Tin Drum'

    'The Tin Drum' (1979)

    Based on the novel of Nobel Prize laureate Günter Grass, the film directed by Volker Schlöndorff won Cannes' Palme d'Or and Germany's first Oscar for best foreign film. As a co-writer of the screenplay, Jean-Claude Carriere contributed to the success of this film classic.

  • Film still 'Belle de Jour' with Catherine Deneuve on a bed

    'Belle de Jour' (1967)

    Starring Catherine Deneuve as a young woman who works a prostitute while her husband is not at home, the film by Spanish enfant terrible Luis Bunuel, co-written with Carriere, gained renown for its shocking sadomasochist scenes. It also won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1967.

  • Film still 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'

    'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' (1972)

    Carriere and Bunuel spent many years collaborating on screenplays, leading to other acclaimed works such as "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie." The film tells the story of a group of bourgeois people attempting to dine together — but the gathering is constantly interrupted for absurd reasons. It won the Academy Award for best foreign language film and a nomination for best screenplay.

  • Film still 'The Swimming Pool' with Alain Delon and Romy Schneider

    'The Swimming Pool' (1969)

    An atmosphere of erotic languor turns into horror in the Italian-French psychological thriller film "La Piscine," directed by Jacques Deray and co-written by Carriere. The stars of the film, Romy Schneider, Alain Delon and Jane Birkin, contribute to the movie's cult status.

  • Film still 'Cyrano de Bergerac' Gerard Depardieu as Cyrano, Anne Brochet as Roxane

    'Cyrano de Bergerac' (1990)

    Based on the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand, the comedy-drama memorably starred Gerard Depardieu in the role of a poet and swashbuckler with a huge nose. The film won many awards; among other distinctions, Jean-Claude Carriere and Jean-Paul Rappeneau's adapted screenplay was nominated for a BAFTA film award.

  • Film still 'The Unbearable Lightness Of Being' with Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche

    'The Unbearable Lightness Of Being' (1988)

    Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche, this film is based on the same-titled novel by Milan Kundera. The exploration of intellectual and artistic life during the Prague Spring was praised for artfully blending the political and the erotic. Jean-Claude Carriere and Philip Kaufman were nominated for an Oscar for best adapted screenplay.

  • Film still 'At Eternity's Gate': Willem Dafoe as Vincent van Gogh

    'At Eternity's Gate'

    Working up until his death on February 8, 2020, at the age of 89, Jean-Claude Carriere contributed to more than 150 screenplays. Among his most recent award-winning works is "At Eternity's Gate," directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Willem Dafoe as Vincent van Gogh.


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