Humbert Balsan
Encyclopedia
Humbert Balsan, born Humbert Jean René Balsan (Arcachon
, August 21, 1954 – Paris
, February 10, 2005) was a French
film producer
and chairman of the European Film Academy
. He was renowned for securing financing and distribution for diverse and often challenging films.
In February 2005, Balsan was found dead in the offices of his production company, Ognon Pictures, in Paris
. He was known to have suffered from depression, and killed himself
by hanging
.
in 1954, Balsan was part of France's upper class
as a member of the Wendel family, an industrial dynasty
. He received a Jesuit education in Amiens
and later studied economics
in Paris
. In 1973, Balsan's film career began when he was cast as Gawain
in Robert Bresson
's Lancelot Of The Lake
(1974).
While Balsan continued to act in small roles in friends's films (he played a pirate in Jacques Rivette's
Nor'west (1976)), his interest turned to production. He assisted Bresson on The Devil, Probably (1977) in 1976 and lensed a documentary
portrait of French music teacher Nadia Boulanger
the following year.
's Le Soleil en Face (Face to the Sun) (1980). The same year, he acted in and co-produced Jean-Louis Trintignant
's Le Maître-nageur (1979).
During the 1980s, Balsan lent not only his screen presence to Samuel Fuller
for the then-expatriate
d director's French-language film Les Voleurs de la nuit (Thieves After Dark) (1984) but his Paris apartment as well. Fuller, who lived in France with his wife and daughter for 13 years beginning in 1982, would recount this period in his memoir (with Christa Lang Fuller) A Third Face: My Tale of Writing, Fighting, and Filmmaking (ISBN 0-375-40165-2).
As a patron of France's women filmmakers, Balsan enabled a group that included Claire Denis
, Sabine Franel, Brigitte Roüan
, and Sandrine Veysset
. He financed Roüan's Post Coitum, Animal Triste
(1997) on the stipulation that the director, who like Balsan began her film career in front of the camera, play the film's lead role.
Balsan also came to be known as a champion of Arab cinema
. He produced Elia Suleiman
's Divine Intervention
(2003
), which in 2002 became the first Palestinian film
to play at the Cannes Film Festival
. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or
and eventually won the Grand Jury Prize. The producer returned to Cannes in 2004
with Youssef Chahine
's Alexandria... New York
(2004), his ninth film with the Egyptian director since 1985's Adieu, Bonaparte. Balsan also presented The Gate of Sun
(2004), his second film with Yousry Nasrallah
, who adapted the Elias Khoury
novel. The 4½-hour epic screened in the Official Selection and depicted the history of Palestine from 1943 to the present. Later that year, Balsan's production Le Grand Voyage
(2004) won its director, Moroccan
émigré Ismaël Ferroukhi
, a best first feature prize at the 2004 Venice Film Festival
.
However, the results of Balsan's efforts did not always please everyone. Balsan, who would typically enlist European television and business entities to co-finance Arab region-produced works, was cited by Al-Ahram Weekly
s Hani Mustafa for being vulnerable to an investor-friendly system that tends to compromise the stories told in Middle-Eastern films.http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/660/cu1.htm
Over the course of his career, Balsan played a role in the production of over 60 films, including several for filmmaking pair Merchant-Ivory. Among the last of his films to see a release are Denis's The Intruder (2004) and Lars von Trier
's Manderlay
(2006
), which he co-produced.
(The Father of My Children) is a 2009 French movie by Mia Hansen-Løve
inspired by the life of Humbert Balsan.
Arcachon
Arcachon is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France.It is a popular bathing location on the Atlantic coast southwest of Bordeaux in the Landes forest...
, August 21, 1954 – Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, February 10, 2005) was a French
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 producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and chairman of the European Film Academy
European Film Academy
The European Film Academy is an initiative of a group of European filmmakers who came together in Berlin on the occasion of the first presentation of the European Film Awards in November 1988.- European Film Academy :...
. He was renowned for securing financing and distribution for diverse and often challenging films.
In February 2005, Balsan was found dead in the offices of his production company, Ognon Pictures, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was known to have suffered from depression, and killed himself
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
.
Early life and career
Born in ArcachonArcachon
Arcachon is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France.It is a popular bathing location on the Atlantic coast southwest of Bordeaux in the Landes forest...
in 1954, Balsan was part of France's upper class
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
as a member of the Wendel family, an industrial dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
. He received a Jesuit education in Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
and later studied economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1973, Balsan's film career began when he was cast as Gawain
Gawain
Gawain is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table who appears very early in the Arthurian legend's development. He is one of a select number of Round Table members to be referred to as the greatest knight, most notably in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...
in Robert Bresson
Robert Bresson
-Life and career:Bresson was born at Bromont-Lamothe, Puy-de-Dôme, the son of Marie-Élisabeth and Léon Bresson. Little is known of his early life and the year of his birth, 1901 or 1907, varies depending on the source. He was educated at Lycée Lakanal in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, close to Paris, and...
's Lancelot Of The Lake
Lancelot du Lac (film)
Lancelot du Lac is 1974 film that was written and directed by Robert Bresson. It relates the story of Lancelot and Guinevere's love as Camelot and the Round Table fall apart...
(1974).
While Balsan continued to act in small roles in friends's films (he played a pirate in Jacques Rivette's
Jacques Rivette
Jacques Rivette is a French film director. His most well known films include Celine and Julie Go Boating, La Belle Noiseuse and the cult film Out 1....
Nor'west (1976)), his interest turned to production. He assisted Bresson on The Devil, Probably (1977) in 1976 and lensed a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
portrait of French music teacher Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger
Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor and teacher who taught many composers and performers of the 20th century.From a musical family, she achieved early honours as a student at the Paris Conservatoire, but believing that her talent as a composer was inferior to that of her younger...
the following year.
Role of producer
Balsan became a producer in 1978 with the filming of Pierre KastPierre Kast
Pierre Kast was a French screenwriter and film and television director.Kast died from a heart attack on board an aircraft on 20 October 1984, aged 64.- Director :...
's Le Soleil en Face (Face to the Sun) (1980). The same year, he acted in and co-produced Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis Trintignant
Jean-Louis Trintignant is a French actor who has enjoyed an international acclaim. He won the Best Actor Award at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.-Career:...
's Le Maître-nageur (1979).
During the 1980s, Balsan lent not only his screen presence to Samuel Fuller
Samuel Fuller
Samuel Michael Fuller was an American screenwriter, novelist, and film director known for low-budget genre movies with controversial themes.-Personal life:...
for the then-expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
d director's French-language film Les Voleurs de la nuit (Thieves After Dark) (1984) but his Paris apartment as well. Fuller, who lived in France with his wife and daughter for 13 years beginning in 1982, would recount this period in his memoir (with Christa Lang Fuller) A Third Face: My Tale of Writing, Fighting, and Filmmaking (ISBN 0-375-40165-2).
As a patron of France's women filmmakers, Balsan enabled a group that included 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:...
, Sabine Franel, Brigitte Roüan
Brigitte Roüan
Brigitte Roüan is a French film director and actress.-Early life and career:Rouan was born into a French naval family in Toulon in 1946. She was orphaned at age six and spent her childhood in Algeria and Senegal. At age 12, she left for convent school in Paris.Her acting career began at age 21, on...
, and Sandrine Veysset
Sandrine Veysset
-Background and early career:She was born in Avignon. Veysset studied French literature until she dropped out of school to pursue filmmaking. A friend introduced her to Léos Carax and she was hired as his driver while he was shooting Les Amants du Pont-Neuf in 1989...
. He financed Roüan's Post Coitum, Animal Triste
Post Coitum, Animal Triste
After Sex is a 1997 film by French director Brigitte Roüan.Roüan stars in the film as Diane Clovier, a married mother of two who has an affair with the friend of a young writer she is mentoring...
(1997) on the stipulation that the director, who like Balsan began her film career in front of the camera, play the film's lead role.
Balsan also came to be known as a champion of Arab cinema
Arab cinema
Arab cinema refers to the cinema of the Arab world.-Overview:There is increased interest in films originating in the Arab world. For example, films from Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Tunisia are making wider and more frequent rounds than ever before in local film...
. He produced Elia Suleiman
Elia Suleiman
Elia Suleiman , is a Palestinian film director and actor. He is best known for the 2002 film Divine Intervention , a modern tragic comedy on living under occupation in Palestine which won the Jury Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival...
's Divine Intervention
Divine Intervention (film)
Elia Suleiman has used entirely non-original music of various genres and artists in the film. These include artists such as the Belgian singer Natacha Atlas, Indian composer A.R...
(2003
2003 in film
The year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
), which in 2002 became the first Palestinian film
Cinema of Palestine
Palestinian cinema is relatively young in comparison to Arab cinema as a whole, many Palestinian movies are made with European and Israeli funding and support. Palestinian movies are not exclusively produced in Arabic and some are made in English, French and Hebrew...
to play at the Cannes Film Festival
2002 Cannes Film Festival
The 2002 Cannes Film Festival started on 15 May and ran until 26 May. The Palme d'Or went to the Polish-French-German-British co-produced film The Pianist directed by Roman Polanski.-Jury:* David Lynch * Sharon Stone* Michelle Yeoh...
. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
and eventually won the Grand Jury Prize. The producer returned to Cannes in 2004
2004 Cannes Film Festival
The 2004 Cannes Film Festival started on May 12 and ran until May 23. The Palme d'Or went to the American film Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore.-Jury:* Quentin Tarantino, President * Emmanuelle Béart * Edwidge Danticat * Tilda Swinton...
with Youssef Chahine
Youssef Chahine
Youssef Chahine was an Egyptian film director active in the Egyptian film industry since 1950. He was credited with launching the career of actor Omar Sharif...
's Alexandria... New York
Alexandria... New York
Alexandria... New York is a 2004 French-Egyptian drama film directed by Youssef Chahine. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Mahmoud Hemida - Yehia...
(2004), his ninth film with the Egyptian director since 1985's Adieu, Bonaparte. Balsan also presented The Gate of Sun
The Gate of Sun
The Gate of Sun is a 2004 French-Egyptian war film directed by Yousry Nasrallah. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Hiam Abbass - Um Youness* Fady Abou-Samra - Dr...
(2004), his second film with Yousry Nasrallah
Yousry Nasrallah
Yousry Nasrallah is an Egyptian film director.Nasrallah was born to a Coptic Christian family in Cairo. He graduated in economics and political science at Cairo University. Following, he worked as a film critic and directing assistant in Beirut from 1978 to 1982...
, who adapted the Elias Khoury
Elias Khoury (writer)
Elias Khoury is a Lebanese novelist, playwright, critic and a prominent public intellectual. He has published ten novels, which have been translated into several foreign languages, as well as several works of literary criticism. He has also written three plays...
novel. The 4½-hour epic screened in the Official Selection and depicted the history of Palestine from 1943 to the present. Later that year, Balsan's production Le Grand Voyage
Le Grand Voyage
Le Grand Voyage is a 2004 film written and directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi. The film portrays the relationship between father and son as both embark on a religious pilgrimage trip by car. It was shown at the 2004 Toronto and Venice International Film Festivals.-Plot:Réda is a French-Moroccan...
(2004) won its director, Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
émigré Ismaël Ferroukhi
Ismaël Ferroukhi
Ismaël Ferroukhi is a French-Moroccan film director.Ferroukhi was born in Kenitra. He gained exposure with his 1992 short film L'Exposé, which won the Kodak Prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival...
, a best first feature prize at the 2004 Venice Film Festival
61st Venice International Film Festival
The 61st Venice International Film Festival was held on September 1 - 11th, 2004.-Jury:* John Boorman * Wolfgang Becker * Mimmo Calopresti * Scarlett Johansson * Spike Lee * Dusan Makavejev...
.
However, the results of Balsan's efforts did not always please everyone. Balsan, who would typically enlist European television and business entities to co-finance Arab region-produced works, was cited by Al-Ahram Weekly
Al-Ahram
Al-Ahram , founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya . It is majority owned by the Egyptian government....
s Hani Mustafa for being vulnerable to an investor-friendly system that tends to compromise the stories told in Middle-Eastern films.http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/660/cu1.htm
Over the course of his career, Balsan played a role in the production of over 60 films, including several for filmmaking pair Merchant-Ivory. Among the last of his films to see a release are Denis's The Intruder (2004) and Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches, and have frequently received strongly divided critical opinion....
's Manderlay
Manderlay
Manderlay is the 2005 sequel to the film Dogville. It is the second part of Lars von Trier's projected USA - Land of Opportunities trilogy. Bryce Dallas Howard replaces Nicole Kidman in the role of Grace Mulligan. The film co-stars Willem Dafoe, replacing James Caan...
(2006
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
), which he co-produced.
Le père de mes enfants
Le père de mes enfantsThe Father of My Children
The Father of My Children is a 2009 French drama film directed by Mia Hansen-Løve. It won the Jury Special Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Michaël Abiteboul* Chiara Caselli* Alice de Lencquesaing...
(The Father of My Children) is a 2009 French movie by Mia Hansen-Løve
Mia Hansen-Løve
Mia Hansen-Løve is a French film director and screenwriter. She has directed three films since 2004. Her film The Father of My Children, won the Special Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival....
inspired by the life of Humbert Balsan.
Notable films
- Alexandria... New YorkAlexandria... New YorkAlexandria... New York is a 2004 French-Egyptian drama film directed by Youssef Chahine. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Mahmoud Hemida - Yehia...
(2004) - The Gate of SunThe Gate of SunThe Gate of Sun is a 2004 French-Egyptian war film directed by Yousry Nasrallah. It was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Hiam Abbass - Um Youness* Fady Abou-Samra - Dr...
(2004) - Divine InterventionDivine Intervention (film)Elia Suleiman has used entirely non-original music of various genres and artists in the film. These include artists such as the Belgian singer Natacha Atlas, Indian composer A.R...
(20032003 in filmThe year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...
) - Martha...Martha (2002)
- SamiaSamiaSamia may refer to:People* Samia Gamal, an Egyptian belly dancer and actress* Samia Smith, a British actress* Samia tribe , , a Luhya tribe in Western Kenya and Southeastern UgandaPlaces...
(2001) - Rembrandt (1999)
- DestinyDestiny (1997 film)Destiny is a 1997 French-Egyptian historical drama film directed by Youssef Chahine. It was screened out of competition at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival....
(1998) - After SexAfter SexAfter Sex is an American 2007 comedy-drama film about several couples having conversations after sex. It looks at the complexity of modern day relationships told through nine separate couples...
(1998) - Adieu BonaparteAdieu BonaparteAdieu Bonaparte is a 1985 French-Egyptian historical drama film directed by Youssef Chahine. It was entered into the 1985 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Michel Piccoli - Cafarelli* Mohsen Mohieddin - Ali* Patrice Chéreau - Napoléon Bonaparte...
(1985) - NoroîtNoroîtNoroît is a 1976 experimental adventure fantasy drama directed by Jacques Rivette. It is loosely based on Cyril Tourneur's The Revenger's Tragedy. The film stars Geraldine Chaplin and Bernadette Lafont as pirates...
(1976)