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Mathieu Kassovitz


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Mathieu Kassovitz


Birth Place: Paris, France
Date of Birth: August 3, 1967
Heritage: French
Famous for: His role in 'Metisse' (1993)

Contact Mathieu Kassovitz

Director of Hate

Background:

“I don't know if it's really important, or intelligent even, when people say to me I'm a white Spike Lee, because they said to Spike Lee you're a black Woody Allen.” Mathieu Kassovitz

Entering showbiz with a part in father director Peter Kassovitz's movie, “Make Room for Tomorrow” (1979), three-time César-winning actor, director, writer and producer Mathieu Kassovitz won the Perspectives du Cinéma Award at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival for his second short, “Cauchemar Blanc” (1991), but it was “Metisse/Café au lait” (1993), his feature directorial debut, that really brought him first remarkable recognition. The actor-director was handed two César nominations and two Paris Film Festival awards. After picking up a César Award for his acting in the noted “Regarde les Hommes Tomber” (1994), Kassovitz enjoyed his big breakthrough as director with the masterpiece “Hate/La Haine” (1995), from which he nabbed his next two César Awards, a Cannes Film Festival award, a European Film Award and two Lumiere awards. Since then, one of the most intriguing directors in France, Kassovitz has added the controversial “Assassin(s)” (1997), the well-accepted “The Crimson Rivers” (2000), the Halle Berry thriller “Gothika” (2003) and “Babylon A.D.” (2008) to his impressive resume. Kassovitz has maintained his acting career with roles in “The Fifth Element” (1997), “Jakob the Liar” (1999), Jean-Pierre Jeunet's international hit “Amelie” (2001), “Birthday Girl” (2001), Steven Spielberg's “Munich” (2005) and others.

The forty-something filmmaker will direct, write, produce and star in the 2009 film “Ordre et la morale, L'.”

5' 9½” Kassovitz, who direced and appeared in TV commercial for Lancôme's Miracle in 2001, became member of the jury at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

Kassovitz and his estranged wife, actress-turned-costume designer Julie Mauduech, have one child. He is now romantically linked with Aurore Lagache.


Father of 1

Childhood and Family:

Born on August 3, 1967, in Paris, France, Mathieu Kassovitz is the son of director-writer Peter Kassovitz and film editor Chantal Rémy. His father is a Jew from Hungary who departed his native country during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, and his mother is French Catholic.

Mathieu has been separated from his wife, former French actress Julie Mauduech. She starred as Lola in his 1993 comedy/romance “Métisse,” in which Mathieu also played the character Felix. They have a daughter named Carmen.


Métisse

Career:

Born to a filmmaker, Mathieu Kassovitz had his first taste in front of the film camera at age 12 when his father directed him in 1979's “Make Room for Tomorrow/Au bout du bout du banc.” Playing Mathias Oppenheim, his costars also included Jane Birkin and Victor Lanoux. Young Kassovitz continued to appear in the movie “Next Year If All Goes Well/ L'Année Prochaine....Si Tout Va Bien” (1981), opposite Isabelle Adjani, and the TV miniseries “Vie de Berlioz, La” (1983) before starting his journey in the world of filmmaking with his first short, “Fierrot le Pou” (1990). His next film, “Cauchemar Blanc”(1991), a 9-minute drama starring Yvan Attal, won the Perspectives du Cinéma Award at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Prior to making short movies, Kassovitz worked as assistant director in “Rumba, La” (1987) and second assistant director in Paul Boujnah's “Moitie-Moitie” (1989).

Kassovitz had a small role in the Martin Sheen vehicle “Touch and Die” in 1991 and made his third short, “Assassins,” the following year, in which he also starred in along side Marc Berman and Robert Gendreu. Eventually, in 1993, the Paris native made his feature directorial debut with “Metisse/Café au lait,” a contemporary classic known for its touching yet mirthful consideration of Parisian race relations. Also starring in the movie as Felix, Kassovitz received significant notice at the César Awards when he was handed nominations for Best First Work and Most Promising Actor. He also won a Special Jury Prize and a Best Actor honor at the 1993 Paris Film Festival.

Kassovitz next could be seen acting in the documentary “3000 Scenarios Contre un Virus” (1994), the adventure “The City of Lost Children” (1995, starred Ron Perlman) and was handed a César for Most Promising Actor for his performance opposite Jean-Louis Trintignant in the acclaimed black comedy “See How They Fall/Regarde les Hommes Tomber” (1994). The multi-faceted artist gained even more attention with “Hate/La Haine” (1995), which he wrote and directed. The French drama was a success among critics and won two Césars for Best Film and Best Editing, a Lumiere for Best Film and a European Film for Best Young Film. It also received a César nomination for Best Writing - Original or Adaptation and a Golden Palm nomination at the Cannes. For his bright directorial effort, Kassovitz took home the Best Director prize at the Cannes, a Lumiere award and a César nomination.

Two years after the huge breakthrough, Kassovitz directed and penned the drama “Assassin(s),” in which he cast himself as Max, a young and cold thief chose to be the successor of old professional killer Wagner (played by Michel Serrault). The controversial film earned a Golden Palm nomination at the Cannes Film Festival, an accomplishment that further cemented his status in the industry.

In between, “Hate” and “ Assassin(s),” Kassovitz starred as a dull but pleasing aspirant war hero, Albert Dehousse, in the Jacques Audiard film “Un héros très discret/A Self-Made Hero,” had an uncredited part in the comedy “My Man/Mon Homme” and supported Marie Trintignant and Christian Charmetant in “Des nouvelles du bon Dieu/“News from the Good Lord” (all 1996). He went on to appear in Luc Besson's “The Fifth Element” (1997), Nicolas Boukhrief's “Le Plaisir” (1998, starred with Vincent Cassel) and his father's comedy “Jakob the Liar” (1999, starred Robin Williams).

Returning to the director's chair, Kassovitz made “Les Rivieres Pourpres/The Crimson Rivers” (2000), a thriller starring Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. Adapted from Jean-Christophe Grange's best-selling novel, the movie was well-received by French audience and received five César nominations, including one for Best Director. A year later, he impressed American public with fine turn as Nino in the critically-acclaimed French film “Amelie,” directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou in the title role, and costarred with Nicole Kidman in the Toronto-screened “Birthday Girl.” After two more acting assignments: the Gérard Depardieu-Christian Clavier vehicle “Asterix and Obelix Meet Cleopatra” and the Costa-Gavras-helmed controversial drama “Amen/ Eyewitness” (both 2002), Kassovitz helmed Halle Berry, Robert Downey Jr. and Charles S. Dutton for his first Hollywood movie, “Gothika” (2003). The film netted a 2004 Golden Trailer nomination for Best Horror/Thriller and a Teen Choice nomination for Choice Movie – Thriller.

Back to acting after three years absence, Kassovitz took on the important role of Robert in the Steven Spielberg-directed “Munich” (2005), which focuses on the outcome of the sad massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics . Also starring in the five-time Oscar-nominated history/thriller were Eric Bana, Daniel Craig and Ciarán Hinds. He then acted in the French movies “Avida” (2006) and “Louise Michel” (2008).

It was also in 2008 that Kassovitz resumed his directorial career with “Babylon A.D.,” an action film which he also scripted. The film stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Mélanie Thierry and Gérard Depardieu, among others, and was produced through his company, MNP. Other projects MNP has produced include David Tessier's “Chepor, La” (2004), Daniel Cohen's “Deux mondes, Les” (2007) and Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire's “Johnny Mad Dog” (2008).

Kassovitz will play Philippe Legorjus in the upcoming history film “Ordre et la morale, L'” (2009). In addition to acting, he also serves as director, writer and producer.


Awards:

  • Cabourg Romantic Film Festival: Best Actor, “Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le,” 2001

  • César: Best Editing (Meilleur montage), “Hate/ Haine, La,” 1996

  • César: Best Film (Meilleur film), “Hate/Haine, La,” 1996

  • Lumiere: Best Director (Meilleur réalisateur), “Hate/Haine, La,” 1996

  • Lumiere: Best Film (Meilleur film), “Hate/Haine, La,” 1996

  • Cannes Film Festival: Best Director, “Hate/Haine, La,” 1995

  • European Film: Best Young Film, “Hate/Haine, La,” 1995

  • César: Most Promising Actor (Meilleur espoir masculin), “Regarde les hommes tomber,” 1995

  • Prix Jean Gabin: 1995

  • Paris Film Festival: Best Actor, “Métisse,” 1993

  • Paris Film Festival: Special Jury Prize, “Métisse,” 1993

  • Cannes Film Festival: Perspectives du Cinéma Award, “Cauchemar blanc,” 1991

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