Luc Besson: Between passion, perseverance and torments
When we talk about him, great movie titles immediately come to mind. Whether with “The Big Blue,” “La Femme Nikita,” “Léon: The Professional,” “The Fifth Element” or more recently “Lucy” and “Valerian and the city of a thousand planets,” the name and cinematographic reputation of Mr. Luc Paul Maurice Besson (alias Luc Besson) are well established.
Born on March 18, 1959 in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, over the years he has carved out a place among the greats of this world, whether in Hollywood or elsewhere.
But in addition to an atypical career history for a Frenchman who went to impose himself in the United States, it is a question of speaking of an example of perseverance which could motivate more than one of us.
From the start, his objective was simple: to produce films in English on French territory by including internationally recognized stars. A risky bet that has nevertheless borne fruit.
Rewarded in 1998 by the César for Best Director for “The Fifth Element” (with the participation of actor Bruce Willis and actress Milla Jovovich), he has long been shunned by critics and this despite a growing public more and more numerous. But that was not enough to stop him. Far from it!
In 1990, he founded Les Films du Dauphin, followed in 1992 by Leeloo Productions, renamed in 2000 by EuropaCorp in an attempt to compete with the American Majors. Big commercial successes followed which undeniably confirmed his aptitudes as a producer and director (let us mention in particular “Taxi,” “Taken,” ” The Transporter ” or even the trilogy of “Arthur and the Invisibles”), proving to all that passion and perseverance can lead to accomplish incredible things.
In the following years, other ambitious projects will see the light of day, such as a foundation intended to help young people in the ghettoes, L’École de la cité, the Blue advertising agency or the writing of various books dealing with his productions. (The Story of The Last Fight, The Story of Subway, The Story of La Femme Nikita, The Story of The Big Blue, The Story of Léon: The Professional, The Story of The Fifth Element, The Story of Joan of Arc, The Story of Arthur and the Invisibles, The Story of Arthur 2 and 3 – The Revenge of Maltazard and The War of the Two Worlds).
Unfortunately, this meteoric rise will gradually be marred by disgraceful events which will upset the daily life and the notoriety of Mr. Luc Besson.
First of all, a few cinematic failures (“Lucy” or even “Valerian and the city of a thousand planets” which, despite its visual and technical quality, did not meet with the expected success) put EuropaCorp in a difficult financial situation.
Then, in May 2018, Luc Besson was accused by the Belgian-Dutch actress Sand Van Roy of rape and sexual assault oscillating between humiliations and rewards in unhealthy “father-daughter” relationships, a complaint since supported by those of nine other young women for facts however prescribed (note that on January 25, 2021, Luc Besson obtained the status of “assisted witness” at the end of his hearing by an examining magistrate).
The coming months will shed light on the follow-up to this survey, but also on possible new productions in preparation.
A case to follow-up!
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Besson
Header Photo Credit: Variety
About the Author
Rose Berryl was born on February 26, 1982 in Mons, Belgium. After studying Latin-history, she became interested in computer graphics and web design. But it was in 2002, after a bet with her best friend, that she discovered a passion for writing. She will release her great Dark Fantasy saga entitled "Damenndyn", the first two opus of which sold for several thousand copies in the space of just five weeks in French-speaking Belgium. The first volume of the saga even won the Prix Gros Sel du Jury in 2007. Installed in Quebec since 2010, she continues to develop her saga and her universe (Damenndyn and Nekromantia, published by CKR Éditions), while exploring other genres (as with a vampiric series, Kryna, published by Éditions du Petit Caveau in 2015 ). Writing has become for her more than a passion, a vital need in which she explores the various facets of her abundant imagination. She draws her inspiration from eternal tales, legends and myths, filled with magic and extraordinary creatures, as well as from History and the Middle Ages in particular. All shrouded in mystery, shadows and even horror specific to the Gothic genre.
Related Posts
Youssou N’Dour, an innovative Senegalese singer and songwriter →
An Interview With a Young Musician and Piano Virtuoso: Alexander Kato-Willis →
Cinemagique: Learn and practice French in a fun way thanks to cinema →
