Virginie Despentes
Encyclopedia
Virginie Despentes is a French writer, novelist and filmmaker.
She moved to Paris.
Her novel Les Jolies choses, was adapted for the screen in 2001, by Gilles Paquet-Brenner, with Marion Cotillard
and Stomy Bugsy
in the lead roles. The film was awarded the Michel d'Ornano
prize, at the 2001 Deauville Festival.
In 2000, she directed her first film adapted from one of her novels, Baise-moi
, working with Coralie Trinh Thi
, Raphaela Anderson and Karen Lancaume
as the protagonists.
Her controversial novel is a contemporary example of the exploitation films genre known as rape and revenge films
.
From 2004 to 2005, she tried a form of writing at the intersection of diaries and journalism, a blog post on which she documents her daily mood.
In 2005, she wrote three songs for the album Va chercher la police for the group AS Dragon
.
In 2006, she published a non-fiction work, King Kong Theory, which has also been translated into English, and recounts her experiences working within the French sex industry, and attendant infamy and praise associated with the aforementioned Baise-Moi.
In 2009 she directed her first documentary, 'Mutantes (Feminist Porn Punk), which was broadcast on TV Pink.
In 2010, her novel Apocalypse bébé, was awarded the Renaudot prize.
Bye Bye Blondie was adapted for film with Béatrice Dalle
and Emmanuelle Béart
.
Cecilia Backes and Salima Boutebal produced a stage adaptation of King Kong Theory, during the "Outside" Festival d'Avignon
.
In 2011, her commentary on Dominique Strauss-Kahn
appeared in The Guardian.
for Apocalypse Bébé.
}
}; Translator Stéphanie Benson, Feminist Press, 2010, ISBN 9781558616578
Life
She settled in Lyon, where she worked multiple odd jobs; including maid, prostitute in "massage parlors" and peep shows, recorded store sales, and a freelance rock journalist and pornographic film critic.She moved to Paris.
Her novel Les Jolies choses, was adapted for the screen in 2001, by Gilles Paquet-Brenner, with Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard is a French actress and singer. She garnered critical acclaim for her roles in films such as La Vie en Rose, My Sex Life... or How I Got Into an Argument, Taxi, Furia and Jeux d'enfants...
and Stomy Bugsy
Stomy Bugsy
Stomy Bugsy is a French rapper from Sarcelles.Born of parents from Cape Verde, Duarte helped found hip hop group Ministere AMER, however in 1996 he decided to launch his own solo career...
in the lead roles. The film was awarded the Michel d'Ornano
Michel d'Ornano
Michel d'Ornano was a French politician. A descendant of both Marie Walewska and Philippe Antoine d'Ornano, he began his political career as mayor of Deauville in 1962...
prize, at the 2001 Deauville Festival.
In 2000, she directed her first film adapted from one of her novels, Baise-moi
Baise-moi
Baise-moi is a French film co-directed by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi, released in 2000. It is based on the novel by Despentes, first published in 1999. The film received intense media coverage because of its graphic mix of violence and explicit sex scenes...
, working with Coralie Trinh Thi
Coralie Trinh Thi
Coralie Trinh Thi is a French author and former pornographic actress known for her acting, writing and for directing the film Baise-moi . She received a Hot d'Or Honorary Award in 2009....
, Raphaela Anderson and Karen Lancaume
Karen Lancaume
Karen Lancaume was a French pornographic film actress. She appeared in around 40 movies between 1996 and 2002. She is best known internationally for her starring role as Nadine in the controversial 2000 film, Baise-moi...
as the protagonists.
Her controversial novel is a contemporary example of the exploitation films genre known as rape and revenge films
Rape and revenge films
Rape and revenge films are a subgenre of exploitation film that was particularly popular in the 1970s. Rape/revenge movies generally follow the same three act structure:...
.
From 2004 to 2005, she tried a form of writing at the intersection of diaries and journalism, a blog post on which she documents her daily mood.
In 2005, she wrote three songs for the album Va chercher la police for the group AS Dragon
AS Dragon
AS Dragon is a football club of Guadeloupe, based in the town of Le Gosier.They play in the Guadeloupe first division, the Guadeloupe Championnat National.-Current squad:2008/2009 season-External links:* - Gwadafoot...
.
In 2006, she published a non-fiction work, King Kong Theory, which has also been translated into English, and recounts her experiences working within the French sex industry, and attendant infamy and praise associated with the aforementioned Baise-Moi.
In 2009 she directed her first documentary, 'Mutantes (Feminist Porn Punk), which was broadcast on TV Pink.
In 2010, her novel Apocalypse bébé, was awarded the Renaudot prize.
Bye Bye Blondie was adapted for film with Béatrice Dalle
Béatrice Dalle
-Biography:Dalle was born in Brest, Finistère, France, as Béatrice Cabarrou. In 1985 she married the painter Jean-François Dalle but they divorced in 1988....
and Emmanuelle Béart
Emmanuelle Béart
Emmanuelle Béart is a French film actress, who has appeared in over 50 film and television productions since 1972. Béart won a César Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film Manon des Sources . She has been nominated a further seven times for Most Promising Actress and Best Actress.- Early...
.
Cecilia Backes and Salima Boutebal produced a stage adaptation of King Kong Theory, during the "Outside" Festival d'Avignon
Festival d'Avignon
The Festival d'Avignon, or Avignon Festival, is an annual arts festival held in the French city of Avignon. Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, it is the oldest extant festival in France and one of the world's greatest...
.
In 2011, her commentary on Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Dominique Strauss-Kahn
Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn , often referred to in the media, and by himself, as DSK, is a French economist, lawyer, politician, and member of the French Socialist Party...
appeared in The Guardian.
Awards
Despentes won the 1998 Prix de Flore, and 1999 Prix Saint-Valentin for Les Jolies Choses; 2010 Prix RenaudotPrix Renaudot
The Prix Théophraste-Renaudot or Prix Renaudot is a French literary award which was created in 1926 by ten art critics awaiting the results of the deliberation of the jury of the Prix Goncourt....
for Apocalypse Bébé.
Novels
- Baise-moiBaise-moiBaise-moi is a French film co-directed by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi, released in 2000. It is based on the novel by Despentes, first published in 1999. The film received intense media coverage because of its graphic mix of violence and explicit sex scenes...
. 1993; Grasset, 1999, ISBN 9782246587118
}
- Les Chiennes savantes. Éditions J'ai lu, 1997
- Les Jolies choses. J'ai lu, 2008, ISBN 9782290350126
- 1999 - Mordre au travers.
- Teen spirit. 2002, J'ai lu, 2004, ISBN 9782290329870
- 2002 - Trois étoiles.
- Bye bye Blondie: roman, Grasset, 2004, ISBN 9782246648918
- King Kong théorie, Grasset, 2006
- King Kong Theorie, Berlin Verlag, 2007, ISBN 9783827007551
}; Translator Stéphanie Benson, Feminist Press, 2010, ISBN 9781558616578
- 2010 - Apocalypse Bébé.
Stories
- 1997 : « C'est dehors, c'est la nuit », recueil collectif Dix, Grasset / Les Inrockuptibles.
- 1999 : Mordre au travers, recueil de nouvelles, Librio.
- 2004 : « Toujours aussi pute », Revue Bordel, n°2, Flammarion.
- 2004 : « Putain, je déteste le foot... », biography of Lemmy KilmisterLemmy KilmisterIan Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister is an English heavy metal musician....
of the group Motörhead, Rock & Folk, n°444. - 2004 : une nouvelle dans le recueil Des nouvelles du Prix de Flore, Flammarion.
- 2009 : « I put a spell on you », Psychologies magazine, Hors série « Les Secrets de l'érotisme ».
External links
- Serpent's Tail author page
- 2009 interview (English)
- Review of King Kong Theory (English)
- "Virginie Despentes décape à vif" L'Express, Marianne Payot, 19 August 2010