A central figure in French cinema and theatre since the mid-1970s, Josiane Balasko has worked extensively as an actor, scriptwriter, playwright and director in the last 50 years. She quickly became a fixture of French cinema with her numerous stage roles with the ‘Splendid’ group of actors and writers (including Michel Blanc, Marie-Anne Chazel, Chirstian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot and Thierry Lhermitte). Many of the plays were then made into films and remain some of the most cherished comedies of all times in France (Le Père Noël est une ordure, Papy fait de la resistance or Les Bronzés).
Josiane Balasko started directing film in 1985 with Un Sac de noeuds and went on to make seven more films, including the UK hit and groundbreaking French Twist (Gazon maudit) in 1995. She has acted in over 130 films and plays, written books, directed for the stage. She was awarded a César for Best Screenplay for French Twist as well as two honourary Césars for her career as a whole.
A close friend of Nathalie Baye, they featured for the first time in a film together in Gabriel Aghion’s Absolument fabuleux, a French remake of the British lengendary series. Nathalie Baye went on to play the main role in Balasko’s 2008 film Cliente.
Josiane Balasko is coming to Ciné Lumière to close our film season Nathalie Baye: A Hundred Lives with the two films they made together. She will also discuss her career at large and introduce the French Christmas favourite Le Père Noël est une ordure.
