Alain Cavalier

The life of little St. Therese of Lisieux, depicted in minimalist vignettes. Therese and her sisters are all nuns in a Carmelite convent... (imdb)

All too little known today, Le combat dans l'île subtly evokes a divided marriage -- not unusual in French films -- and a divided nation -- but not divided as seen in the then-dominant Nouvelle Vague. Political assassinations (the attempts on DeGaulle reached double figures), underground extreme right-wing groups, even international, right-wing fugitives -- producer Louis Malle was clearly making a political statement distinct from that of his New Wave confrères. (filmforum.org)

A video diary shot and recorded by the filmmaker, using little more than his imagination and the happenstance and flow of the everyday, finally layering in a lifetime of memories. (imdb)

Following the death of his wife in a car accident, a grieving, injured man whose head is wrapped in bandages returns to their apartment, smashes the furniture, and begins painting everything in sight black, including the windows, all the while raving about his past life and his dead wife. The story seems to parallel certain aspects of director Alain Cavalier's own life: his wife (actress Irene Tunc) died not long before in a car accident. (allmovie)

Based on the novel by Francoise Sagan, LA CHAMADE tells a heartbreaking story of a beautiful woman who must choose between two of her innermost desires. Lucile (Catherine Deneuve) has gotten used to the comfortable life given to her by a wealthy older man, but her true passion lies for a young writer who is unable to take care of himself.

Record of the affective memory of the filmmaker, with images taken between 1994 and 2005.

Vincent Lindon and Alain Cavalier are pals. Like father and son. They sip port in bars dreaming of a film they might make. Together. Then just once in a while, they don suit and tie. Play men of power. See how much trouble they can make. For a laugh. They tell a tall story, that's part really personal, part, well - just plain tall. Only, as ever at the movies, there's that excellent question no one can answer: is it really all make-believe? (mubi.com)

In this film, you will see a woman handkerchief tied to a man's wrist, a pig's head well shaved, teenagers more inventive than their elders so as to fight oppression...But you will not hear any dialogue. The words don't prepare, acompany or comment the action in the film. It is not a silent film, but only a way to keep for cinematography certain moments in life where we do not speak. (festival-cannes.fr)

1961. Thomas Vlassenroot deserted the French Foreign Legion while fighting in Algeria. His lieutenant, Fraser, initiated the desertion for the two of them, Fraser believing he could do more for the French working for an underground organization. However, Thomas readily admits that he no longer has any political motivations or affiliations, and thus is hiding out from the authorities in Algiers. Fraser offers him a proposition: help him kidnap Lyonais lawyer, Dominique Servet, who is in Algiers t (imdb)

The experience of living through two periods of depression and the quiet expectation of a third has endowed a filmmaker with the capacity to perceive the true beauty of life and to capture it on film. He films everything he sees, without favour and without preference, providing it awakens within him a feeling of love. His only worry is that he feels he may have lost some part of that essential quality of his art: innocence...

Emmanuèle Bernheim and Alain Cavalier are linked by thirty years of friendship. They are preparing a film based on the autobiographical book of the novelist: Everything went well. She tells how her father asked her "to finish" after a cardiovascular accident. Cavalier proposes to him to hold his own role and that he, be his father. One winter morning, Emmanuèle calls Alain; it will be necessary to delay the shooting until the spring, it is operated urgently. (imdb)

Criminals rob a French mining town.

A love affair is seen obliquely: without showing the people, the camera shows objects related to the couple's bond.

The director records his impressions of toilets in various places: bars, pool halls, funeral parlors, friends' apartments.

Pierre's elderly mother fails to arrive at the train station. Distraught, he thinks she may have fallen from the train somewhere between Paris and Troyes. His daughter—despite her own struggles—joins him as they begin the 140km journey along the track on foot.

Klouk (Bernard Crombey) is a car salesman who has to miss a family holiday to deliver a luxury Chevrolet station wagon to his boss' wealthy client. He decides to take his friend Philippe (Xavier Saint-Macary) along with him for the ride across the length of France from Lille to the Cote d'Azur. On the way they give a lift to hitchhiker Charles (Etienne Chicot) who also brings along his friend Daniel (Patrick Bouchitey). (Radiance Films)

Director and scriptwriter Alain Cavalier talks about his next movie "Thérèse".

An American sculptor settles in Paris, convinced that this city will be good for his work. However, to survive, he has to sell the New York Herald Tribune at night.