Robert Lachenay (1930–2005) was a French film critic and film crew member. He was

François Truffaut François Roland Truffaut ( , ; ; 6 February 1932 – 21 October 1984) was a French film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film critic. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. After a career of more tha ...

's childhood friend and the inspiration for the character ''René Bigey'' in the first two films of the

Antoine Doinel Antoine Doinel () is a fictional character created by François Truffaut and portrayed by actor Jean-Pierre Léaud in five films directed by Truffaut. Doinel is to a great extent an alter ego for Truffaut; they share many of the same childhood ex ...

film series. Lachenay attended the same schools as Truffaut, and often let Truffaut stay at his family's home. When interviewed in the documentary '' François Truffaut: Portraits volés'', Lachenay claimed that, unlike the film ''

The 400 Blows ''The 400 Blows'' (french: Les Quatre Cents Coups) is a 1959 French coming-of-age drama film, and the directorial debut of François Truffaut. The film, shot in DyaliScope, stars Jean-Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, and Claire Maurier. One of ...

'', he was more often the leader and troublemaker, with Truffaut as his sidekick. Lachenay was credited as a film critic who wrote articles for ''

Cahiers du cinéma ''Cahiers du Cinéma'' (, ) is a French film magazine co-founded in 1951 by André Bazin, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, and Joseph-Marie Lo Duca.Itzkoff, Dave (9 February 2009''Cahiers Du Cinéma Will Continue to Publish''The New York TimesMacnab, Ge ...

''. However, Truffaut occasionally published under the alias "Robert Lachenay". Lachenay later worked as a crew member on the early films of Truffaut and

Jacques Rivette Jacques Rivette (; 1 March 1928 – 29 January 2016) was a French film director and film critic most commonly associated with the French New Wave and the film magazine ''Cahiers du Cinéma''. He made twenty-nine films, including ''L'amour fou' ...

. He wrote and directed one short film, '' Le scarabée d'or'' in 1961, based on an

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

story. He died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

at the age of 75.

Filmography

* ''

Une Visite ''Une Visite'' (french: A Visit) was the first short film made by 23-year-old François Truffaut. It was filmed in Jacques Doniol-Valcroze’s apartment and its crew included Jacques Rivette, Alain Resnais Alain Resnais (; 3 June 19221 March 20 ...

'' (1955) – Production Assistant * '' Le coup du berger'' (1956) – Camera Assistant * ''

Les mistons ''Les Mistons'' (''The Mischief Makers'') is a short film directed by François Truffaut in 1957. It was his second film after '' Une Visite'' in 1955 but it is considered his "first short film of any real consequence". Truffaut simply called it ...

'' (1957) – Production Manager * ''

'' (1959) – Assistant Unit Manager * ''

Paris nous appartient ''Paris Belongs to Us'' (french: Paris nous appartient, sometimes translated as ''Paris Is Ours'') is a 1961 French mystery film directed by Jacques Rivette. Set in Paris in 1957 and often referencing Shakespeare's play ''Pericles'', the title i ...

'' (1960) – Unit Manager * '' Tire-au-flanc 62'' (1960) – actor * '' Le scarabée d'or'' (1961) – writer, director * '' François Truffaut: Correspondance à une voix'' (1988) – Documentary * '' François Truffaut: Portraits volés'' (1993) – Documentary * '' François Truffaut, une autobiographie'' (2004) – Documentary

External links

* French film critics 1930 births 2005 deaths French male non-fiction writers 20th-century French male writers {{France-film-bio-stub