Josée Dayan

Director and producer, also actor · Born October 6, 1943 (83) · Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France

Josée Dayan (born 6 October 1943 in Toulouse, France) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer. Dayan grew up in Algiers, Algeria, where her father Albert Dagnant, who came from a Jewish family, worked as a television director; her grandmother was the owner of a cinema. Since 1974 she directed mainly movies for television. In 1979, under her direction, a documentary about Simone de Beauvoir appeared. Her most successful works are the 1998 TV mini-series The Count of Monte Cristo with Gérard Depardieu in the lead role, and the 2002 mini-series Les Misérables with Depardieu and John Malkovich. Then there is Balzac: A Passionate Life (1999) and Cet amour-là (2001), both with Jeanne Moreau,[5] and Raspoutine (2011) with Depardieu. A major success was Les Liaisons dangereuses (2003) with Catherine Deneuve and Nastassja Kinski in the leading roles. Source: Article "Josée Dayan" from Wikipedia in english, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Biography from TMDB.

Born: October 6, 1943 (83)
From: Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, France
Works as: Director and producer, also actor
Titles: 6 on MovieCove · 67 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 39 days to Oct 28Up 4% in 30 days

What are Josée Dayan's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight

Self

40%

Morality

25%

Bonds

18%

Power

10%

Society

Identity2 Romantic love2 Deception2

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 4

Serious

Tone · Weight

lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 1 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

Stylized

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

Charged

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 1 · Intense 2

Shifting

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Steady 1 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Engaged

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

Affecting

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 2

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense

Romantic

Dread

Melancholic

Cathartic

Other

How their films linger

Wistful3 Bittersweet2

How their films end · 1 with a twist

Happy2
Bittersweet1
Ambiguous2

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 Josée Dayan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 6 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

MHz Choice1 title, show their title on MHz Choice
PBS Masterpiece1 title, show their title on PBS Masterpiece
Walter Presents1 title, show their title on Walter Presents

Subscription and free streaming for Josée Dayan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted.

Filmography

67 credits, 6 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

Ardennes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)
Show 1 episode · Director · Co-Producer
Sur la dalle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Show 2 episodes · Director
Adieu Vinyle(2023)
Director
Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The King's Favorite(2022)
Show 2 episodes · Director · Producer
Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all shows
Quand sort la recluse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Director
Quand sort la recluse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)
Show 2 episodes · Director · Producer
Based on a True Story(2017)
as Karina
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
The Chameleon Slayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Director · Producer
Captain Marleau(2014)
Show 11 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Producer
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows
Entre vents et marées (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)
Director · Producer
Indiscrétions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Director · Producer
Rasputin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Director
The Lanzac Clan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Director
La solitude du pouvoir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Director · Producer
Second Chances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)
Director
A Bad Encounter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Director · Producer
Bouquet final (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)
Director
A Dubious Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Director · Producer
Ni reprise, ni échangée (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)
Director · Producer
Mom Lost It! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Director · Editor · Producer
Seeking Whom He May Devour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Director
The Chalk Circle Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Director · Producer
Mourir d'aimer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)
Director · Producer
Marie-Octobre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Director
Château en Suède (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Director
Nous n'irons plus au bois (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Director
Collection Fred Vargas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Show Creator
Sous les vents de Neptune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)
Show 2 episodes · Director
The Countess of Castiglione (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)
Show 2 episodes · Director · Creator · Writer
The Accursed Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Show 5 episodes · Director
A Cursed Monarchy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Director
Akoibon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
as Jacqueline Pommard
Milady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)
Director · Producer
Hot House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Director · Producer
Dangerous Liaisons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Show 3 episodes · Director
L'Étrange monsieur Joseph (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Director
Cet amour-là (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Director
Zaïde, un petit air de vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Director
Textiles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)
Thanks
Attila(2001)
Director
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
Les Misérables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)
Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator
Balzac (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Show 2 episodes · Director · Creator
Balzac: A Life of Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Director
La passion du docteur Bergh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Director
The Count of Monte Cristo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator
Les liens du cœur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Director
L'Enfant du secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Director · Writer
Une clinique au soleil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Director · Writer
Victor et François (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Director
Les Bœuf-carottes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Show 2 episodes · Director
La guerre des privés (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Show 2 episodes · Director
Love at First Sight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)
Show 1 episode · Director
Hot Chocolate(1992)
Director
Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
Plein fer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Director
Frame Up Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Director
À corps et à cris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Director
Navarro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Show 13 episodes · Director
Le Retour de Lemmy Caution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Director
L'Ex-femme de ma vie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Director
Je tue à la campagne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Director
Le Deuxième Couteau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Director
Le Retour d'Elisabeth Wolff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Director · Adaptation
Simone de Beauvoir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Director · Writer
La Femme rompue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)
Director
Les Musiciens de la pellicule (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator
Capitaine Marleau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Show Creator
Neptunes Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)
Director

Career shape

A full career of 66 titles, 64 of them dated from 1974 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Based on a True Story (2017)

$4M worldwide

Highest rated

Based on a True Story (2017)

Midcredits 27^th

Film career

2017Screen debut· Based on a True Story

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting2 of 66Directing61 of 66Writing5 of 66Producing16 of 66Editing1 of 66Other crew9 of 66

66 titles, 25 with more than one role — directing and producing overlap on 16 of them.

By decade

1970s3 · crew1980s7 · crew1990s14 · crew2000s21 · 1 acting · 20 crew2010s15 · 1 acting · 14 crew2020s4 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

How do Josée Dayan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 17^th percentile, the median of all 4; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 23^rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

23^rdpercentile

Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

20^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

45^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 6 titles, by percentile

50^th to 74^th1
25^th to 49^th2
Below 25^th3

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 6 titles are Mixed.

Universally Panned1
Broadly Agreed1
Mixed4

Most divisive · director

Hot Chocolate (1992)

82^nd percentile spread · 54% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Attila (2001)

Midcredits 67^th · 58% liked

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.

Who does Josée Dayan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Josée Dayan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Isabelle Adjani shares the most, 2.

Josée Dayan

What are Josée Dayan's films like?

Themes

What they feel like to watch

Moods and endings

Where can I watch Josée Dayan's films?

Filmography

Career shape

Film career

By role

By decade

How do Josée Dayan's films land?

Shape of the crowd

Who does Josée Dayan work with?

Actors

Composers

Producers