Mia Hansen-Løve, The Father of My Children

French writer-director Mia Hansen-Løve took inspiration for her second film, The Father of My Children (Le père de mes enfants), from the 2005 suicide of legendary producer Humbert Balsan, whom she knew as an aspiring filmmaker. Her Father is presented in two halves, the first focusing on embattled producer Gregoire (Louis-Do de Lencquesaling) and the second his Italian wife Sylvia (Chiara Caselli). Hansen-Løve’s film has few cinematic equals in its depiction of life in the film industry, and here the wise, young writer/director discusses the aesthetic and personal influences that lent her the canny and knowing wherewithal to create such a singular document (24 minutes).

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