Skip to main content

Claire Denis

Director
Claire Denis is a renowned French film director and screenwriter celebrated for her distinctive narrative style and exploration of themes such as colonialism, immigration, and personal relationships. She began her career assisting directors like Wim Wenders and Jim Jarmusch before making her directorial debut with "Chocolat" in 1988, a semi-autobiographical film set in colonial Africa, which was well-received and nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Her 1999 film "Beau Travail" is considered a modern classic, praised for its poetic storytelling and stunning visuals. Denis's work often features collaborations with actors such as Vincent Gallo and Juliette Binoche, as seen in films like "The Intruder" (2004) and "Let the Sunshine In" (2017). She ventured into science fiction with "High Life" in 2018, starring Robert Pattinson, garnering critical acclaim. Denis has received numerous awards, including the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the French Directors' Guild, solidifying her status as an influential figure in contemporary cinema.

Films

Chocolat

Chocolat

By Claire Denis

1988 | 104 min | Timeless

A French woman returns to her childhood home in Cameroon, formerly a colonial outpost, where she's flooded by memories, particularly of her servant.

Recommended for you

Life on the Horn

Life on the Horn

2020 | 25 min | Drama

In a narrative that explores the dire consequences of environmental neglect and exploitation at Somalia's coastline, a touching story unfolds about survival amidst adversity. Directed by Mo Harawe, this film delves into the life of a young man and his dying father, set against a backdrop of a community ravaged by the aftereffects of illegal toxic waste dumping by European intermediaries. With its stark black and white visuals, the film offers a powerful, minimalist portrayal of their daily struggles, ...

The Sun Assassinated

The Sun Assassinated

2002 | 120 min | Biography

Jean Senac, a gay French poet and radio host, is a "pied-noir", a Frenchman born in Algeria. A decade after Algeria gained independence from France, Senac becomes an enemy of the authorities for his homosexuaual lifestyle and progressive ideas. He befriends young playwright Hamid (Mehdi Dehbi) after Hamid's play wins a national contest, but their friendship has tragic consequences.

God is not Working on Sunday!

God is not Working on Sunday!

2015 | 82 min | Documentary

After the bloody genocide 20 years ago, Rwanda made a remarkable turnaround, which was primarily made possible by the country's women. It sounds like a feminist utopia: the country is ruled by a majority of women, it is a leader in IT technology, and it is experiencing rapid economic growth. Only 20 years after the genocide, Rwanda is considered one of the most progressive nations on the African continent. First and foremost, women have been responsible for reconciliation within society. GOD IS ...

Honey and Ashes

Honey and Ashes

1996 | 76 min | Timeless

HONEY AND ASHES sheds light on the story and fate of three women trapped between tradition and modern life in North Africa today. Naima, a doctor, Amina, a graduate, and Leila, a young student, are pursuing their individual routes to an independent life when their paths cross. “Fares’ script is intelligent and dramatically involving.” (Variety) Aged just twenty, Leila (Nozha Khouadra) is a young, rebellious woman with an unbridled desire for freedom. She leaves her family and embarks on a degree ...

Kinshasa Collection

Kinshasa Collection

2017 | Documentary

Kinshasa is the center of the emerging Congolese fashion industry. It's no wonder that Europeans also want to make money from it. The focus is on Kinshasa's fashion enthusiasts and the increasing global interdependence of the unregulated flourishing textile trade between the Democratic Republic of Congo, China and Europe. The semi-fictional documentary indie series KINSHASA COLLECTION sheds light on the development of the Congolese metropolis as the capital of new urban trends. Under the artistic ...

Make Up the World

Make Up the World

2024 | 99 min | Documentary

In MAKE UP THE WORLD, filmmakers Susanne Weirich and Robert Bramkamp explore the profound impact of film props, venturing into prop warehouses like Studio Babelsberg, Delikatessen Berlin, and FTA Props in Hamburg. Each item, from lamps to paintings, embodies narratives that transcend their physical form, enriching cinematic stories from "Kolberg" to "Großstadtrevier." Through the perspective of BiPOC activist and actress Thelma Buabeng, the film also explores the post-colonial history of certain ...

Red Ears

Red Ears

2022 | 30 min | Animation

Armed with photos from back then, Paul travels to visit a Senegalese friend and takes her on a trip down memory lane with animations and old videos. Paul Drey documents experiences, illusions, and traumas he encountered as a 19-year-old in the city of Thiès in Senegal. As part of his year of community service, he flew to Senegal with a German NGO in 2010, where he worked in the surgery department of a hospital. Poverty, corruption, and a difficult everyday life turned his hopes for meaningful development ...

A Boy's Dream

A Boy's Dream

2023 | 30 min | Independent

Elias has always desired to have children and dreams of starting a family. In contrast, Christian values his current free-spirited lifestyle in an open relationship, giving him and his partner the time and resources to travel, purchase expensive designer furniture, and care for one another. Elias manages to suppress his longing for a family for a long time. However, upon commencing his new job as a psychologist at a boarding school, it seems as though the dam has broken. He must come to terms with ...