The famous French screenwriter and filmmaker visited Bulgaria on the occasion of the presentation of her latest work - "Cezanne and Emile Zola", the highlight of the Festival of the French Film this year.

The new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic in Bulgaria - H. E. Mr. Éric Lebédel presented the event as follows: "I am extremely happy, just a few days after my arrival in Bulgaria, to present you the sixth edition of the Festival of the French Film. It will be held from the 21st of November to the 3rd of December 2016 in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv for another year within the international festival "Kinomania".

The French Institute and "Kinomania" diligently continue their successful partnership to offer 10 new French titles. They were specially selected in major European festivals in 2016 : in Cannes, of course, but also in Venice and Berlin. I am convinced that this carefully chosen selection will fascinate you. "

We were fascinated by Daniel Thompson’s film "Cezanne and Emile Zola," that opened the festival on the 21st November, in "Lumiere". The reel tells the story of two giants in the culture of the 19th century – the impressionist painter Cezanne /played by - Guillaume Galliene/ and the writer Emile Zola /played by Guillaume Canet/ and their close relations from the school bench till the rest of their lives. These great men share women, dreams of fame and who knows what else ... And that makes them sway in the relationship between love and hate, and all the excitement that they generate. Critics see the film as a dramatic comedy, biographical, historical ... But one thing is certain - it is very interesting. As is its director, with whom the audience had a conversation after the screening.

To remind some facts about her: Daniel Thompson – a novelist, screenwriter, film director, was born in 1942 in Monaco in an artistic family. When her mother and her father - the legendary director Gérard Oury, who filmed cult films with Louis de Fines and Bourvil, separated, she moved to New York.

She studied in America, and then, in 1966, returned to France. Her father at that time was living with the legend of the French cinema Michelle Morgan. The relations between Daniel Thompson and Michael Morgan have always been an example in the high society of Paris. During this period, she began working with her father in famous films within the comedy genre, which continued until 1973.

In 1975, Daniel Thompson wrote the screenplay for the film "Cousin, cousin" that got nominated for the Oscar and Golden Globe Award and got three nominations for the Cesar award. In 1980 she wrote with Claude Pinaultthe the screenplay for "The Party 1" and "The Party 2" - films with worldwide success /starring Sophie Marceau/. In 1995 she received a Cesar award for best screenplay for "Queen Margot", director Patrice Chereau.

In 1995 she was assistant director of the film "Love Story", starring Juliette Binoche. In 1999, she began her successful career as a film director. One after the other came the films: La Bûche - "Christmas cake" /1999/, Décalagehoraire - "Time difference" /2002/, Fauteuils d'orchestre - "Avenue Montaigne" /2006/, Le code a changé - "Change of Plans "/2009/, Des gens qui s'embrassent - "It Happened in St. Tropez" /2013/ to finally get to Cézanne et moi -"Cezanne and Emile Zola"/2016/.

Photo: “Diplomatic Spectrum”

Pierre Guillemins, attache for cultural affairs at the French embassy and Daniel Thompson during the meeting with the audience in the cinema "Lumiere"

Pierre Guillemet  - Danièle Thompson

E. Mr. Éric Lebédel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Bulgaria.

Guillaume Galliene – Guillaume Canet – Gérard Oury – Michèle Morgan - Louis de Funès –Émile Zola