Bertrand Blier, a French Cinema Icon, Passes Away at 85

Bertrand Blier, a towering figure in French cinema and the son of renowned actor Bernard Blier, passed away on Monday evening at the age of 85, surrounded by his family in Paris. As a filmmaker, screenwriter, and writer, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy defined by dark humor and bold creativity, which profoundly influenced the world of cinema.

A Master of French Cinema
Blier made his mark with iconic films such as Going Places (Les Valseuses), Cold Cuts (Buffet froid), and Ménage (Tenue de soirée). These works, often controversial for their raw tone and provocative nature, captivated both audiences and critics. In the 1970s, he helped launch the careers of Gérard Depardieu and Patrick Dewaere, two actors who became central figures in his cinematic universe.

A Multi-Awarded Career
Bertrand Blier received numerous prestigious accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1979 for Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (Préparez vos mouchoirs). He also won several César Awards, notably for Too Beautiful for You (Trop belle pour toi), which was named Best Film in 1990. In addition, he was honored at the Venice Film Festival with the European Grand Prize for One, Two, Three, Freeze (Un, deux, trois, soleil) in 1993.

A Complex Legacy
While his films were often celebrated, they were also the subject of controversy. Works like Going Places and Calmos faced criticism for their portrayal of male dominance and sexual violence. Nevertheless, Blier’s distinctive style, influenced by the theater of the absurd, inspired numerous filmmakers, including Quentin Dupieux.

A Unique Perspective on Society
Blier’s films keenly captured the transformations of French society, particularly the urban upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s. His razor-sharp dialogue, often compared to the works of Prévert and Audiard, earned him a reputation as a “dialogue genius.”

A Career in Decline
After achieving major box-office success in the 1980s (Going Places: 5.7 million tickets, Ménage: 3.1 million), Blier’s audience began to dwindle. Only The Clink of Ice (Le Bruit des glaçons) in 2009, starring Jean Dujardin and Albert Dupontel, managed to regain some critical and public acclaim.

A Wave of Tributes
The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, paid tribute, saying, “He was a filmmaker of immense talent and nonconformity, a passionate lover of creative freedom.” Bertrand Blier will be remembered as a bold and audacious storyteller whose distinctive voice left an indelible mark on French cinema.