Alain Bergala (born 1947) is a French film director and writer, known for his unique and influential approach to the art of filmmaking and film theory. He has been described as one of the most influential French film theorists of the post-war period and has been credited with expanding the language of cinema.
Bergala was born in Paris and studied literature at the Sorbonne, before joining the Parisian film journal Cahiers du Cinéma in 1968. His early work explored the role of the spectator in the cinematic experience, and he was a major proponent of the "auteur theory," which argued that the director was the primary author of a film.
In the 1970s, Bergala directed several short films, including the 1975 documentary “Le Jardin de L’Oubli” and the experimental film “La Nuit du Film” (1977). During this time, he also wrote extensively on film theory and aesthetics, including his influential book “L’espace du Cinéma” (1981).
In the 1980s, Bergala moved away from his earlier experimental work and began making feature films. His first feature-length film, “Le Garçon et la Bête” (1982), was a critical and commercial success, winning the César Award for Best First Film. His subsequent films, including “L’Esprit d’une Autre” (1986) and “Dans la Ville Blanche” (1989), established Bergala as one of the leading French directors of the 1980s.
In the 1990s, Bergala continued to explore the relationship between the viewer and the film, focusing on the role of memory and perception in the cinematic experience. His films during this period included “Le Grand Chemin” (1990), “Le Voyage en Douce” (1995) and “La Grande Boucle” (1997).
In the 2000s, Bergala branched out into television, directing several documentaries for French television, including “Le Monde en Images” (2002) and “La Passion du Cinéma” (2005). He also continued to make feature films, including “L’Inconnu du Lac” (2002) and “L’Enfant du Pays” (2007).
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