Jean Pierre Lefebvre (; born 17 August 1941) is a Canadian filmmaker. He is widely admired as "the godfather of independent Canadian cinema," particularly among young, independent filmmakers.
Biography
Jean Pierre Lefebvre studied literature at the University of Montréal and taught for two years at the Jesuit-run Loyola College in Montreal (now part of Concordia University). He began writing as a film critic, first for ''Quartier Latin'', then for ''
Séquences
''Séquences'' is a French-language film magazine originally published in Montreal, Quebec by the Commission des ciné-clubs du Centre catholique du cinéma de Montréal, a Roman Catholic film society. It is the third oldest French film magazin ...
'' and '' Objectif''. He directed his first film, a short drama, then three independent features. He joined the
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; french: Office national du film du Canada (ONF)) is Canada's public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary f ...
and made two films, including the 1968 feature '' My Friend Pierrette (Mon amie Pierrette)'', co-starring
Raôul Duguay Raôul Duguay (born February 13, 1939) is a Canadian artist, poet, musician, and political activist in the province of Quebec, Canada. He has been an active performer since 1966. Duguay is a longtime supporter of the Quebec sovereignty movement and ...
and produced by Clément Perron. Lefebvre was then asked to head the NFB's French-language fiction studio. He began its ''Premières Oeuvres'' series, designed to make low-budget shorts and features. Four features and a number of shorts were produced within a year before the initiative was terminated, and Lefebvre left to form his own production company, Cinak, with his wife and editor,
Marguerite Duparc
Marguerite Duparc (March 13, 1933 – February 13, 1982) was a Canadian film producer and editor, best known for her collaborations with her husband Jean Pierre Lefebvre.
Lefebvre was one of the first Canadian filmmakers to receive international acclaim for his work; his film '' Don't Let It Kill You (Il ne faut pas mourir pour ça)'' (1967) was the first Canadian film to be invited to the
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
. He proved to be successful again at Cannes when he received the International Critics' Prize for '' Les fleurs sauvages'' (1982) and his film '' Le jour S...'' (1984) was screened in the
Un Certain Regard
(, meaning 'a certain glance') is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's official selection. It is run at the Debussy, parallel to the competition for the . This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob.
The section presents 20 films w ...
section. His 1973 film ''
The Last Betrothal
''The Last Betrothal'' (french: Les dernières fiançailles) is a Canadian drama film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1973. Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 122. The film stars J. Léo G ...
(Les dernières fiançailles)'' won the prestigious Prix de l'Organisation catholique internationale du cinéma in 1974.
''Il ne faut pas mourir pour ça'' (1967), '' Le Vieux pays où Rimbaud est mort'' (1977), and ''Aujourd'hui ou jamais'' (1997) make up his ''Abel Trilogy''; three feature films starring the recurring character of Abel Gagné played by
Marcel Sabourin
Marcel Sabourin, OC (born March 25, 1935) is a Canadian actor and writer from Quebec.Gaetan Charlebois and Anne Nothof"Sabourin, Marcel" ''Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia'', October 20, 2015. He is most noted for his role as Abel Gagné, the centra ...
.
In 1991, he was made an Officer of the
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
"for his innovative and high-quality feature films". In 1995 he was awarded the
Prix Albert-Tessier
The Prix Albert-Tessier is an award by the Government of Quebec that is part of the Prix du Québec, given to individuals for an outstanding career in Quebec cinema. It is awarded to script-writing, acting, composing music, directing, producing a ...
. In 2013, Lefebvre received a
Governor General's Performing Arts Award
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
My Eye
''My Eye'' (french: Mon œil) is a Canadian satirical film, written and directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1971.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 146. Satirizing the dominance of television, ...
(Mon œil)'' – 1971
*''
Ultimatum
An ultimatum (; ) is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance (open loop). An ultimatum is generally the final demand in a series ...
'' – 1973
*''
The Last Betrothal
''The Last Betrothal'' (french: Les dernières fiançailles) is a Canadian drama film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1973. Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 122. The film stars J. Léo G ...
The Old Country Where Rimbaud Died
''The Old Country Where Rimbaud Died'' (french: Le Vieux pays où Rimbaud est mort) is a 1977 French-Canadian feature from Jean Pierre Lefebvre. The second film in his Abel Gagné trilogy, preceded by '' Don't Let It Kill You (Il ne faut pas mour ...
(Le vieux pays où Rimbaud est mort)'' – 1977
*'' To Be Sixteen (Avoir 16 ans)'' – 1979
*''
Wild Flowers
A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the w ...
*''L'homoman'' (Short film, 1964)
*'' To the Rhythm of My Heart (Au rythme de mon coeur)'' (Documentary, 1983)
*''Alfred Laliberté sculpteur'' (Documentary, 1987)
*''Ensemble'' (Video, 1988)
*''Sentiers secrets'' (Video, 1988)
*''Laubach Literacy of Canada: The Changing Workplace'' (Documentary short, 1989)
*''Atelier altitude'' (Short film, 1993)
*''Il était une fois Sabrina et Manu'' (Short film, 1994)
*'' L'Âge des images'' (Series of 5 videos, 1994–1995)
*''H comme hasard'' (Short film, 1999) (Part of the collective anthology project ''Un abécédaire'')
*'' See You in Toronto'' (Short film, 2000)
*''Le manuscript érotique'' (TV movie, 2002)
*''Mon ami Michel'' (documentary, 2004)