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Bertrand Tavernier

Bertrand Tavernier

Director, writer, actor and producer · Died March 25, 2021, aged 79 · Lyon, Rhône, France

Bertrand Tavernier was a French director, screenwriter, producer and writer, born on April 25, 1941 in Lyon, and died on March 25, 2021 in Sainte-Maxime (Var). Son of the writer and resistance fighter from Lyon, René Tavernier, he was first an assistant director, press officer (notably for Stanley Kubrick) and critic before moving on to directing with The Watchmaker of Saint-Paul, his first critical success, which led to a long collaboration with the actor Philippe Noiret (Let the Party Begin..., The Judge and the Assassin, Coup de torchon, Life and Nothing But, The Daughter of d'Artagnan). Eclectic, he tackled several cinematographic genres, from the dramatic comedy (A Sunday in the Country, Daddy Nostalgia) to the war film (Captain Conan) through the historical film (Pass, The Princess of Montpensier) or the thriller (L.627, The Bait). Several of his films have won awards, in France and abroad (including Autour de minuit which won an Oscar and was nominated for a Golden Globe). He was president of the Lumière Institute from 1982, the year the Institute was created, until his death. He is the father of director and actor Nils Tavernier and novelist Tiffany Tavernier.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 25, 1941
Died
March 25, 2021 (aged 79)
From
Lyon, Rhône, France
Works as
Director, writer, actor and producer
Titles
26 on Motif · 56 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 19% in 30 days

What are Bertrand Tavernier's films like?

Across their 25 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Power.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Motif score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Documentary6 titlesTypical Motif score: 92nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Motif score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Motif score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Motif score: 51st percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
18%
Power
16%
Self
15%
Morality
15%
Survival
14%
Society
11%
Ideas
11%
Art6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 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 7 · Serious 6 · Dark 12

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 11 · Intense 7

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 3

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 6 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 12

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 14 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
14
Tense
13
Contemplative
11
Warm
11
Dread
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Thought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Bertrand Tavernier's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 26 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bertrand Tavernier's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

56 credits, 26 with a Motif page; 37 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Journeys Through French Cinema (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Creator · as Self

  • Souvenirs de Voyage (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • My Journey Through French Cinema(2016)

    Director · Writer · as Self

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Lumière!(2016)

    Producer

    Motif score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The French Minister(2013)

    Director · Writer · as Un journaliste TV (voice)

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Princess of Montpensier(2010)

    Director · Screenplay

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • In the Electric Mist(2009)

    Director

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Michael Powell (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • Holy Lola (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Strange Gaze of Mark Lewis (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Seuls sont les indomptés (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Lui-même

  • Jane Birkin... Mother of All Babes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    Thanks

  • Safe Conduct(2002)

    Director · Screenplay

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Histoires de vies brisées: les 'double peine' de Lyon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • My Father Saved My Life (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Writer

  • Don't Make Trouble! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Co-Producer

  • It All Starts Today(1999)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Other Side of the Tracks (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · as Lui-même

  • Fred (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Executive Producer

  • Captain Conan(1996)

    Director · Screenplay

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Lumière Brothers' First Films (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1996)

    as Narrator

  • Fresh Bait (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Writer

  • The Cineastes' Exit (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Narrator

  • The Troubles We've Seen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    Producer

  • Revenge of the Musketeers(1994)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 38th percentile of all films

  • L.627 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Undeclared War (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

  • Lest We Forget (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • The Old Lady Who Walked in the Sea(1991)

    Producer

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Daddy Nostalgia(1990)

    Director · Writer · as Narrator (uncredited)

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Life and Nothing But (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Beatrice(1987)

    Director

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • 'Round Midnight(1986)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Philippe Soupault et le surréalisme (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · as Lui-même

  • Mississippi Blues (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • A Sunday in the Country(1984)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Le narrateur

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • La trace(1983)

    Producer · Writer

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Coup de torchon(1981)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all films

  • A Week's Vacation(1980)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Death Watch(1980)

    Director · Co-Producer · Screenplay

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Spoiled Children (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Question (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Producer

  • The Judge and the Assassin(1976)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Let Joy Reign Supreme(1975)

    Director · Screenplay

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Don't Touch the White Woman!(1974)

    as Un homme du pouvoir (uncredited)

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Clockmaker(1974)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Paranoia(1969)

    Assistant Director

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Guerilla Hellcats (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Writer

  • Mexican Slayride (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    Writer

  • A Matter of Honor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1966)

    First Assistant Director

  • Chance at Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Director · Writer

  • Les baisers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Contempt(1963)

    Publicist

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Bakery Girl of Monceau (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Young Man / Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

  • Le Doulos(1962)

    Publicist

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Léon Morin, Priest(1961)

    Assistant Director

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 54 titles from 1961 to 2017.

Biggest box office

Revenge of the Musketeers (1994)

$12M worldwide

Highest rated

Lumière! (2016)

Motif 98th

Most popular right now

In the Electric Mist (2009)

Film career

  • 1963Screen debut· The Bakery Girl of Monceau

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting13 of 54: 8 only acting, 5 with another roleDirecting32 of 54: 8 only directing, 24 with another role · typical Motif score78thWriting24 of 54: 3 only writing, 21 with another role · typical Motif score81stProducing8 of 54: 5 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew7 of 54: 6 only other crew, 1 with another role

54 titles, 24 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 21 of them.

By decade

1960s10 · 1 acting · 9 crew1970s6 · 1 acting · 5 crew1980s9 · 2 acting · 9 crew1990s13 · 4 acting · 11 crew2000s10 · 3 acting · 7 crew2010s6 · 2 acting · 5 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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Bertrand Tavernier's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 77th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Motif score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th5

Shape of the crowd

None of their 26 titles divides audiences: 16 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed3

Most loved · producer

Lumière! (2016)

Motif 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 80/100 and the pacing 44/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Bertrand Tavernier's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 Motif titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity5 titles26–62 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 31

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 Bertrand Tavernier work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bertrand Tavernier's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Armand Psenny shares the most, 9.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles