KASSOVITZ, MATHIEU

(1967- )

Actor, director, and screenwriter. Mathieu Kassovitz made his film debut acting inAu bout du bout du banc(1979), a film directed by his father, Peter Kassovitz. He won theCésarfor Most Promising Actor for his performance inJacques Audiard'sRegarde les hommes tomberin 1995 and was nominated for a César for Best Actor inCosta-Gavras'sAmen(2002). He delivered a very clever performance in Audiard'sUn héros très discretand costarred in Jean-Pierre Jeunet'sLe fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain(2001). He had a major English-speaking role in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated film,Munich(2005).

In addition to dramatic roles, Kassovitz also does comedy.His roles in his own film,Métisse(1993), and inAmélie(2001) were somewhat comedic, and he had a fully comic role in Alain Chabat'sAstérix et Obélix:Mission Cléopâtre(2002). He also appeared in Benoît Delépine and Gustave de Kervern's comic filmAvida(2006). He once famously quipped that those who say he is a white Spike Lee are saying nothing, since Spike Lee was once called a black Woody Allen. It is true that the influence of both directors is evident in Kassovitz's acting and directing.

Kassovitz began his directing career with shorts such asFierrot le pou(1990),Cauchemar blanc(1991), andAssassins(1992). To date, he is best known forLa Haine(1995), which is often associated withjeune cinémaand thecinéma de banlieue. Simultaneously a contemplation of French discrimination against multiple-generation immigrants and an exposure of police brutality in the working-class suburbs of Paris,La Hainewon the César for Best Film in 1996, and Kassovitz was named Best Director forLa Haineat Cannes in 1995. Kassovitz's first feature,Métisse, took on the issue of internal discrimination among Parisians of Jewish and African descent, and was also nominated for a César for Best New Film. Both features are important cinematic representations of multicultural France and were influenced by Spike Lee. Kassovitz later directedAssassin(s) (1997), and the more conventional thrillersLes rivières pourpres(2000) andGothika(2003), a less acclaimed English-language film. He recently began work on a film titledBabylon A.D., scheduled for release in 2007.