Denis Lavant
Encyclopedia
Denis Lavant is a French
film actor
known for his distinctive face and the physically demanding aspects of the roles he plays, which often involve slapstick
, acrobatics
or dance
, as well as for his long-standing association with director Leos Carax
. Lavant has played the lead role in all but one of Carax's films.
Lavant is also known for his starring roles in Claire Denis
' Beau Travail
and Harmony Korine
's Mister Lonely
, which features Carax in a supporting role.
, Hauts-de-Seine
in France. Lavant began acting professionally in 1982 and appeared in minor roles before making his breakthrough in 1984 as the lead in Boy Meets Girl
, the directorial debut of Leos Carax
, with whose films he has been associated ever since. In 1986, Lavant and Carax worked together again on the thriller Mauvais Sang and again in 1991 on Carax's third film, Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
. In both Mauvais Sang and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, Lavant starred opposite Juliette Binoche
. In 1998, Lavant appeared in the iconic Jonathan Glazer
-directed video for the UNKLE
song Rabbit in Your Headlights, and in 1999, he played one of the lead roles in Beau Travail
, directed by Claire Denis
. In 2007, he appeared in Harmony Korine
's Mister Lonely
, in which he portrayed a Charlie Chaplin
impersonator. Lavant, who does not speak English, took an intensive language course in preparation and learned his lines phonetically. His longtime associate Leos Carax appears in a supporting role as the main character's talent agent
.
In 2008, Lavant and Carax re-united for the anthology film
Tokyo!, which marked their first work together since Lovers on the Bridge and Carax's first major directing work in nearly a decade. Carax's segment for the film, called "Merde," starred Lavant as a violent monster who lives in the sewers of Tokyo and speaks in a gibberish language, venturing out occasionally to attack passersby.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
film actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
known for his distinctive face and the physically demanding aspects of the roles he plays, which often involve slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
, acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
or dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, as well as for his long-standing association with director Leos Carax
Leos Carax
Leos Carax is a French-born film director, critic, and writer. Carax is noted for his poetic style and his tortured depictions of love. His first major work was Boy Meets Girl , and his notable works include Lovers on the Bridge and the controversial Pola X...
. Lavant has played the lead role in all but one of Carax's films.
Lavant is also known for his starring roles in Claire Denis
Claire Denis
Claire Denis is a French film director and Professor of Film at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.-Early life:...
' Beau Travail
Beau travail
Beau travail is a 1999 French movie directed by Claire Denis that is loosely based on Herman Melville's novella Billy Budd. However, instead of the maritime setting of the novella, the movie takes place in Djibouti where the protagonists are soldiers in the French Foreign Legion...
and Harmony Korine
Harmony Korine
The story is told from the perspective of a young man suffering from untreated schizophrenia, played by Ewen Bremner, as he tries to understand his deteriorating world. Julien's abusive father is played by Werner Herzog...
's Mister Lonely
Mister Lonely
Mister Lonely is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Harmony Korine, and co-written with his brother Avi Korine.-Plot:A young American man living in Paris scratches out a living as a Michael Jackson look-alike, dancing on the streets, public parks, tourist spots and trade shows. During a show in...
, which features Carax in a supporting role.
Biography
Lavant was born in Neuilly-sur-SeineNeuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
in France. Lavant began acting professionally in 1982 and appeared in minor roles before making his breakthrough in 1984 as the lead in Boy Meets Girl
Boy Meets Girl (1984 film)
Boy Meets Girl is a 1984 French drama film written and directed by Leos Carax, starring Denis Lavant and Mireille Perrier. It was Carax' first feature film...
, the directorial debut of Leos Carax
Leos Carax
Leos Carax is a French-born film director, critic, and writer. Carax is noted for his poetic style and his tortured depictions of love. His first major work was Boy Meets Girl , and his notable works include Lovers on the Bridge and the controversial Pola X...
, with whose films he has been associated ever since. In 1986, Lavant and Carax worked together again on the thriller Mauvais Sang and again in 1991 on Carax's third film, Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf
Les Amants du Pont-Neuf is a 1991 French film directed by Leos Carax, starring Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant. The title refers to the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris...
. In both Mauvais Sang and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, Lavant starred opposite Juliette Binoche
Juliette Binoche
Juliette Binoche is a French actress, artist and dancer. She has appeared in more than 40 feature films, been recipient of numerous international accolades, is a published author and has appeared on stage across the world. Coming from an artistic background, she began taking acting lessons during...
. In 1998, Lavant appeared in the iconic Jonathan Glazer
Jonathan Glazer
Jonathan Glazer is an English director of films, commercials and music videos.-Biography:After studying theatre design at Nottingham Trent University, Glazer started out directing theatre and making film and television trailers, including award-winning work for the BBC...
-directed video for the UNKLE
UNKLE
Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
song Rabbit in Your Headlights, and in 1999, he played one of the lead roles in Beau Travail
Beau travail
Beau travail is a 1999 French movie directed by Claire Denis that is loosely based on Herman Melville's novella Billy Budd. However, instead of the maritime setting of the novella, the movie takes place in Djibouti where the protagonists are soldiers in the French Foreign Legion...
, directed by Claire Denis
Claire Denis
Claire Denis is a French film director and Professor of Film at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.-Early life:...
. In 2007, he appeared in Harmony Korine
Harmony Korine
The story is told from the perspective of a young man suffering from untreated schizophrenia, played by Ewen Bremner, as he tries to understand his deteriorating world. Julien's abusive father is played by Werner Herzog...
's Mister Lonely
Mister Lonely
Mister Lonely is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Harmony Korine, and co-written with his brother Avi Korine.-Plot:A young American man living in Paris scratches out a living as a Michael Jackson look-alike, dancing on the streets, public parks, tourist spots and trade shows. During a show in...
, in which he portrayed a Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
impersonator. Lavant, who does not speak English, took an intensive language course in preparation and learned his lines phonetically. His longtime associate Leos Carax appears in a supporting role as the main character's talent agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
.
In 2008, Lavant and Carax re-united for the anthology film
Anthology film
An anthology film is a feature film consisting of several different short films, often tied together by only a single theme, premise, or brief interlocking event . Sometimes each one is directed by a different director...
Tokyo!, which marked their first work together since Lovers on the Bridge and Carax's first major directing work in nearly a decade. Carax's segment for the film, called "Merde," starred Lavant as a violent monster who lives in the sewers of Tokyo and speaks in a gibberish language, venturing out occasionally to attack passersby.
Filmography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1982 | L'ombre sur la plage |
| 1982 | Les Misérables Les Misérables (1982 film) Les Misérables is a 1982 French drama film directed by Robert Hossein. It is one of the numerous screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo.-Plot summary:... |
| 1983 | After Midnight |
| 1983 | Paris ficelle |
| 1983 | At First Sight |
| 1983 | The Wounded Man |
| 1984 | Long Live Life |
| 1984 | Boy Meets Girl Boy Meets Girl (1984 film) Boy Meets Girl is a 1984 French drama film written and directed by Leos Carax, starring Denis Lavant and Mireille Perrier. It was Carax' first feature film... |
| 1985 | Going and Coming Back |
| 1986 | Mauvais Sang |
| 1987 | L'étendu |
| 1989 | Once Around the Park |
| 1989 | Mona and I |
| 1991 | C'est merveilleux |
| 1991 | Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Les Amants du Pont-Neuf Les Amants du Pont-Neuf is a 1991 French film directed by Leos Carax, starring Juliette Binoche and Denis Lavant. The title refers to the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris... |
| 1992 | Drôle d'immeuble |
| 1993 | Fuis la nuit |
| 1993 | Forced to Be with Others |
| 1994 | The Chess Game |
| 1995 | L'ennemi |
| 1995 | Obviously I Need You |
| 1997 | Wild Animals Wild Animals Wild Animals is Korean director Kim Ki-duk's second film, released in 1996. It is a crime-drama film set in Paris, and stars Cho Jae-hyun, Dong-jik Jang and Ryun Jang.- Cast :... |
| 1998 | Don Juan Don Juan (1998 film) Don Juan is a 1998 film directed and written by Jacques Weber, starring Penélope Cruz and Emmanuelle Béart. The screenplay was based on the play Dom Juan by Molière. The film takes place in a mental hospital.-Awards and nominations:... |
| 1998 | Le monde à l'envers |
| 1998 | Melody for a Hustler |
| 1999 | Beau travail Beau travail Beau travail is a 1999 French movie directed by Claire Denis that is loosely based on Herman Melville's novella Billy Budd. However, instead of the maritime setting of the novella, the movie takes place in Djibouti where the protagonists are soldiers in the French Foreign Legion... |
| 1999 | Tuvalu Tuvalu (film) Tuvalu is a 1999 experimental movie from Germany. The style evokes early 20th Century Silent movies and motifs commonly found in German expressionism. The sparse dialog is presented in a mix of European languages... |
| 2000 | Deep in the Woods Deep in the Woods Deep in the Woods is a 2000 French horror film directed by Lionel Delplanque. The film is about a troupe of five young actors who are hired to perform at a remote chateau for Baron Axel De Ferson when they find out that a madman is on the loose murdering people.The film was released in France on... |
| 2000 | The Squale |
| 2001 | Married/Unmarried |
| 2001 | Affaire Libinski |
| 2002 | Sous-commandant Père Noël |
| 2002 | La merveilleuse odyssée de l'idiot Toboggan |
| 2004 | Low Street |
| 2004 | Luminal Luminal (film) Luminal is the debut film from Italian director Andrea Vecchiato.Named after the drug phenobarbitone, the film is based on the cult novel by Italian writer Isabella Santacroce... |
| 2004 | A Very Long Engagement A Very Long Engagement A Very Long Engagement is a 2004 French romantic war film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou. It is a fictional tale about a young woman's desperate search for her fiancé who might have been killed on the battle of the Somme, during World War I... |
| 2004 | Le soldat inconnu vivant |
| 2005 | Wild Camp |
| 2006 | Elegant |
| 2007 | Le passeur |
| 2007 | Mister Lonely Mister Lonely Mister Lonely is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Harmony Korine, and co-written with his brother Avi Korine.-Plot:A young American man living in Paris scratches out a living as a Michael Jackson look-alike, dancing on the streets, public parks, tourist spots and trade shows. During a show in... |
| 2007 | Captain Ahab |
| 2007 | Iyi Seneler Londra |
| 2008 | Tokyo! (Segment "Merde") |
| 2008 | Comment Albert vit bouger les montagnes |
| 2009 | Les Williams |
| 2009 | Tamanrasset |
| 2009 | The Temptation of St. Tony The Temptation of St. Tony The Temptation of St. Tony is a 2009 Estonian film written and directed by Veiko Õunpuu, starring Taavi Eelmaa. The plot has been described as a black comedy and centers around a successful, middle aged man who becomes interested in questions about morality... |
| 2009 | Les cow-boys n'ont pas peur de mourir |
| 2009 | Obsession(s) |
| 2010 | Bury our Dogs |
| 2010 | Je, François Villon, voleur, assassin, poète |
| 2010 | Tandis qu'en bas des hommes en armes |
| 2010 | Hitler in Hollywood |
| 2011 | My Little Princess My Little Princess My Little Princess is a French-Romanian drama film directed by Eva Ionesco and inspired by her relationship with her mother, the well-known artistic photographer Irina Ionesco whose pictures of her young daughter aroused discussions when they were published back in the 1970s... |
| 2011 | Les amours perdues |
| 2011 | Le petit poucet |
| 2011 | L'oeil de l'astronome |
| 2012 | Holly Motors Holly Motors Holly Motors is an upcoming French film written and directed by Leos Carax. It will star Denis Lavant as a man who travels between multiple parallel lives... |