Michel Deville
Michel Deville (13 April 1931 – 16 February 2023) was a French film director and screenwriter. Deville began directing during the emergence of the French New Wave and was a contemporary of filmmakers such as Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, although he was not part of the movement. His early films nevertheless attracted favourable attention from critics at Cahiers du Cinéma, Positif and Présence du cinéma.
Michel Deville

ManoSolo13241324 · CC0
- Name
- Michel Deville
- Born
- 13 April 1931
- Birthplace
- Boulogne-Billancourt, France
- Died
- 16 February 2023
- Occupation
- * Film director
- Nationality
- France
- Honours
- Louis Delluc Prize · César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation · César Award for Best Director
- Languages
- French
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Michel Deville (13 April 1931 – 16 February 2023) was a French film director and screenwriter. Deville began directing during the emergence of the French New Wave and was a contemporary of filmmakers such as Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, although he was not part of the movement. His early films nevertheless attracted favourable attention from critics at Cahiers du Cinéma, Positif and Présence du cinéma.
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wikidata · Q599556 · wikipedia · Michel Deville
In this article
Biography
Biography
One of Deville's comedies, La Lectrice (The Reader) was probably his biggest success with international audiences. La Lectrice is about a woman (played by Miou-Miou), who finds work reading novels for the blind but gradually finds herself unwittingly attracting a clientele of fetishists who enjoyed being read to. At one time his films were difficult to find in North America but presently (2007) seven of his films are available in DVD in the U.S. His 1980 film Le Voyage en douce was entered into the 30th Berlin International Film Festival. A clip from his 1968 film Benjamin is included in Robert Bresson's Une Femme Douce (1969). Deville died on 16 February 2023, at the age of 91.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Michel Deville • Born — 13 April 1931 • Birthplace — Boulogne-Billancourt, France • Died — 16 February 2023 • Place of death — Boulogne-Billancourt, France • Occupation — * Film director • screenwriter • Years Active — 1958–2023
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Title — Credited as — Notes • Director — Screenwriter • 1958 — A Bullet in the Gun Barrel • 1961 — Tonight or Never • 1962 — Adorable Liar • 1963 — Because, Because of a Woman — Also as producer • 1963 — Girl's Apartment • 1964 — Les Petites Demoiselles — Telefilm • 1964 — Lucky Jo • 1966 — The Mona Lisa Has Been Stolen • 1966 — Martin Soldat • 1967 — Zärtliche Haie • 1968 — Benjamin — Louis Delluc Prize for Best Film • 1969 — Bye bye, Barbara • 1970 — The Bear and the Doll • 1971 — Raphael, or The Debauched One — Nominated—1971 Cannes Film Festival - Palme d'Or • 1973 — The Woman in Blue • 1974 — Love at the Top • 1977 — The Apprentice Heel • 1978 — Dossier 51 — César Award for Best Screenplay, Dialogue or Adaptation French Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Best French Film Nominated—1978 Cannes Film Festival - Prix Un certain regard Nominated—César Award for Best Film Nominated—César Award for Best Director • 1980 — Le Voyage en douce — Nominated—30th Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Bear • 1981 — Eaux profondes • 1983 — The Little Bunch • 1984 — Les Capricieux — Telefilm • 1985 — Death in a French Garden — César Award for Best Director Nominated—35th Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Bear Nominated—César Award for Best Film Nominated—César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation • 1986 — Paltoquet • 1988 — The Reader — French Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Best French Film Louis Delluc Prize for Best Film Montreal World Film Festival - Grand Prix des Amériques Nominated—César Award for Best Film Nominated—César Award for Best Director Nominated—César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation • 1990 — Summer Night in Town • 1991 — Lest We Forget — Segment: "Pour Nguyen Chi Thien, Vietnam" • 1992 — Toutes peines confondues • 1994 — Aux petits bonheurs • 1997 — La Divine Poursuite • 1999 — Sachs' Disease — Chicago International Film Festival - Gold Hugo French Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Best French Film San Sebastián International Film Festival - Silver Shell for Best Director San Sebastián International Film Festival - Best Screenplay San Sebastián International Film Festival - Solidarity Award Nominated—César Award for Best Director Nominated—César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation • 2002 — Almost Peaceful — Nominated—59th Venice International Film Festival - Golden Lion • 2005 — The Art of Breaking Up
Identity
Identity
Michel Deville is recorded as having received Louis Delluc Prize, César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation and César Award for Best Director. Recognition and collections. Deville received Louis Delluc Prize, César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation and César Award for Best Director.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1931
Michel Deville born at Boulogne-Billancourt.
2023
Michel Deville died at Boulogne-Billancourt.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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