Film Close Up

Writer, musician, and filmmaker Chris Wade explores the filmography of the acclaimed and controversial French filmmaker, Bertrand Blier. Hailed as a genius of the absurd and heavily awarded in Europe, Blier became known for his satirical tales of macho chauvinism and twisted love, often with French icon Gerard Depardieu as his leading man. Emerging as a serious force of European cinema with his landmark Going Places (1974), Blier went on to win an Oscar for Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (1978), a Cesar for Buffet Froid (1979), and the Cannes Grand Prix for Too Beautiful For You (1989). Though once one of the leading lights of French cinema, Blier is spoken of less today, and his films are not as celebrated as they once were. Chris Wade’s book then, is a much needed reappraisal, as well as a celebration of a singular talent whose films deserve to be watched by generations to come. The book also features Chris’s interview with Bertrand Blier from 2021.