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Ghislain Cloquet

Cinematographer · Died November 2, 1981, aged 57 · Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

Ghislain Cloquet (18 April 1924 – 2 November 1981) was a Belgian-born French cinematographer. Cloquet was born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1924. He went to Paris to study and became a French citizen in 1940. Cloquet is known for his work with Robert Bresson, though he also collaborated with Claude Sautet, Jacques Demy, André Delvaux, Chris Marker, and Marguerite Duras. He shot Jacques Becker's last film, Le Trou, and then worked several times with Becker's son Jean, who was also Cloquet's brother-in-law. He also worked with several non-French directors, including Woody Allen (Love and Death), Arthur Penn (Four Friends) and, most notably, Roman Polanski, winning an Oscar (on his first nomination) for his work on Polanski's Tess, which he completed after the death of Geoffrey Unsworth. Cloquet married into the Becker filmmaking family (which included directors Jacques and Jean, cinematographer Étienne, and actress Françoise Fabian), when he wed Jacques Becker's daughter Sophie, then a script girl. Source: Article "Ghislain Cloquet" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 18, 1924
Died
November 2, 1981 (aged 57)
From
Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 54 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 17% in 30 days

What are Ghislain Cloquet's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 94th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
27%
Survival
21%
Self
17%
Morality
13%
Power
11%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 11

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 8

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 7 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 7

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 8

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 11 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
11
Tense
6
Dread
8
Contemplative
6
Warm
5
Other
13

How their films linger

Haunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic8
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ghislain Cloquet's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ghislain Cloquet's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

54 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Sans Soleil(1983)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Four Friends(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • I Sent a Letter to My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • Tess(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Plants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • Monsieur Albert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • La ville-bidon(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Love and Death(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Butcher, the Star and the Orphan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • Say it with Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Woman of the Ganges (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Nathalie Granger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Cinematographer · Actor

  • At the Meeting with Joyous Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Cinematographer

  • Belle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Cinematographer

  • Faustine and the Beautiful Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • Appointment in Bray(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • La famille (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Actor

  • Jaune, Le Soleil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Donkey Skin(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The House of the Bories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • A Gentle Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Josef von Sternberg, A Retrospective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Marry Me! Marry Me! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • One Night... a Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • The Diary of an Innocent Boy(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Far from Vietnam(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Mouchette(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Young Girls of Rochefort(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Had His Hair Cut Short (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Au hasard Balthazar(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Mickey One(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Chicken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Cinematographer

  • The Fire Within(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Vive Le Tour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • Bells Without Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • Les honneurs de la guerre(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Man Called Rocca(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The American Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Description of a Struggle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • The Big Risk(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Le Trou(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Le Bel Âge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • A Girl in a Pocket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • The Adventures of Arsène Lupin(1957)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Mystery of Workshop 15 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • All the World's Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Passionate Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Camera Operator

  • Night and Fog(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Saint-Tropez, devoirs de vacances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Pantomimes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Statues Also Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Aux frontières de l'Homme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Hommes Des Oasis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 54 titles from 1951 to 1983.

Biggest box office

Love and Death (1975)

$20M worldwide

Highest rated

Le Trou (1960)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

  • 1973Screen debut· Nathalie Granger

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 54: 1 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting1 of 54: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleCinematography50 of 54: 48 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score89thOther crew3 of 54: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s11 · crew1960s22 · crew1970s18 · 2 acting · 17 crew1980s3 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ghislain Cloquet's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 89th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 90th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

90thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot (1973)

64th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Le Trou (1960)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 81/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 65. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ghislain Cloquet's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles13–50 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles1–24 · median 13 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles3–47 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles16–81 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ghislain Cloquet work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ghislain Cloquet's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mag Bodard shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles