Victor Lévy (born 22 July 1935), better known by his pen name Victor Haïm, is a French playwright, actor, screenwriter, director and drama teacher. His works have been translated and performed in several countries.
He is the father of actress and director
Mathilda May
Mathilda May (born Karin Haïm; 8 February 1965) is a French film actress and director. Her most well-known roles include portraying Space Girl in '' Lifeforce'' (1985) and Jeanne Gardella in '' Toutes peines confondues'' (1992).
Her father is ...
and dancer and comedian Judith Haim, known as Judith Réval.
Biography
Victor Lévy, who would later take the pen name Victor Haïm, was born in
Asnières-sur-Seine
Asnières-sur-Seine () is a Communes of France, commune in the Hauts-de-Seine Departments of France, department and Île-de-France Regions of France, region of north-central France. It lies on the left bank of the river Seine, some eight kilometr ...
on 22 July 1935, into a
Sephardic Jewish
Sephardic Jews, also known as Sephardi Jews or Sephardim, and rarely as Iberian Peninsular Jews, are a Jewish diaspora population associated with the historic Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and their descendant ...
family originally from
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; ), also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, Salonika, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece (with slightly over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area) and the capital cit ...
. His parents then quickly moved to Nantes. The Second World War had dramatic consequences for his family, who had to take refuge in hiding in the Massif Central in 1941. His mother's entire family was exterminated.
Returning to Nantes in 1945, he resumed his studies at the Lycée Jules Verne and then at the
Lycée Clemenceau, and he entered, in parallel with his school studies, the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Nantes, where he studied under the direction of Jacques Couturier. He graduated in 1954, without a prize but with a medal for diction. He then moved to Paris, where he studied literature, obtaining a master's degree in modern literature, and entered the
École supérieure de Journalisme The ESJ or École supérieure de journalisme (in English: Tertiary college of Journalism) is an institution of higher education and French Grande École dedicated to the study of Journalism. It has three sites in France
France, officially th ...
. He found an internship at
Agence France Presse
Agence France-Presse (; AFP) is a French international news agency headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 1835 as Havas, it is the world's oldest news agency.
With 2,400 employees of 100 nationalities, AFP has an editorial presence in 260 c ...
but his passions remained theater and writing. At that time, he wrote two plays that were never performed.
A few months after his marriage to Danielle Lévy, in 1957, he was sent to military service for 28 months, 14 of which were in Algeria.
Returning to Paris in 1960, he began a career as a journalist, first at Agence France Presse, then for an economic newspaper for three years, then for magazines. At the same time, he made a name for himself in 1963 as a playwright, writing for radio and television, and also for the stage, under the pen name Victor Haïm. He borrowed his father's middle name, Joseph Haïm Lévy. He ended his journalistic career in 1977,
His first success was in 1963 with his play ''The Skin of the Carnivore'', which was created by
Pierre Valde, a professor at the Cours Dullin, and, in particular,
Gérard Desarthe, and
Michelle Marquais.
The play will be performed in more than twenty countries. His career was then launched in France and abroad - his works were translated into fifteen languages. In 1966, his play ''Die Singing'' and, a year later, ''Bladed Weapon'' were new successes. From then on, he was supported by the Avant-Scène publishing house, which published his new works in their magazine and in the Collection des Quatre-Vents.
He diversified in 1970 by writing a play for puppets, an opera libretto and a ballet-comedy. From 1982 onwards, he wrote screenplays, his first work being ''Entre Chats et Loups'', followed by ''Les Incorrigibles'' (1977), ''Ja Peur'' (1994), ''Noces Cruelles'' (1996). In addition, he became a drama teacher in 1983, at the Théâtre de L'Ombre, then at the
Cours Florent
The Cours Florent is a private drama school in Paris, France, established in 1967 by French theater actor François Florent.
The school's facilities are located on three sites in the 19th arrondissement of Paris: Rue Archereau, Rue Mathis, and ...
. He held this position until 1991. In 1992, he worked at the Regional School of Actors in Cannes, and two years later, at the Department of Culture and Communication at the
University of Évry. The French Theatre Centre of
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
called on him to fill the post of secretary.
From 1976 onwards, he acted in his own plays.
Her first role was in his play ''Isaac and the Midwife''.
Awards and accolades
In 2003, he was awarded the
Molière Award
The Les Molière is the national theatre award of France and it recognises achievement of French theatre each year. The awards are considered the highest honour for productions and performances. Presided and decided by the ''Association profess ...
for his work ''Stage Games (Jeux de Scène).'' He was awarded Best Playwright.
Theatre
Author
* 1963: ''The Skin of the Carnivore''
* 1966: ''Elzevir'' - Comedy
[Published in Cinq Comédies en duo at Art & Comédie rchive Collection Côté Scène.]
* 1966: Die Singing - Drama
* 1967: ''The Knife''
* 1968: ''
My Cello for a Horse'' - Modern Drama
* 1971: ''La Peau d'un fruit'' - Monologue
* 1972: ''Next year in Baden Baden''
* 1973: ''Abraham and Samuel'' - Comedy
[Published in ''Théâtre 1'' at the Collection des Quatre-Vents de L'avant-Scène du Théâtre]
* 1973: ''Who Killed the General?''
* 1974: ''How to Harpoon the Shark'' - Comedy
* 1974: ''The Abyss''
* 1974: ''The Vampires Subsidized''
* 1975: ''La Visite'' - Comedy
* 1975: ''The Loopholes''
* 1975: ''The Intervention''
* 1976: ''Isaac and the Midwife - Comedy-drama''
* 1976: ''The Strike''
* 1976: ''La Servante'' - Comedy,
* 1977: ''
An Enemy of the People
''An Enemy of the People'' (original Norwegian title: ''En folkefiende'') is an 1882 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen that explores the conflict between personal integrity and societal norms. The play centers on Dr. Thomas Stockmann, w ...
'' / Ibsen - Literary Adaptation
* 1979: ''The Bathtub'' - Drama,
* 1980: ''The Eagles''
* ''The Wizard of Saratoga'' (1980)
* 1980: ''L'Escalade'' - Comédie gratante
* 1981: ''Steak''
* 1981: ''Belle Famille'' - Tragic Farce
* 1981: ''Tune Your Violins'' - Modern Drama
* 1981: ''Women of God'' - Drama
* 1982: ''La Chaloupe''
* 1985: ''The Butcher's Fantasies'' - Squeaky comedy
* 1986: ''La Valse du Hasard'' - Drama
[Published by Actes Sud-Papiers]
* 1986: ''The Eternal Husband'' / Dostoevsky - Literary adaptation
* 1988: ''The Grand Host'' - Comedy
* 1989: ''David's Laughter'' - Modern Drama
* 1990: ''The Ménate No Longer Responds''
* 1992: ''The Coveted Widow'' - Comedy
* 1992: ''The Woman Who Strikes'' - Tragic Farce
* 1993: ''Standing Woman''
* 1994: ''Renata, Josepha and the Men'' - Drama
* 1994: ''Flesh amour'' - Comedy
* 1996: ''Le Trou'' - Comedy
* 1999: ''The Vampire Always Sucks Twice'' - Comedy
* 1999: ''The Scene''
* 2000: ''Velouté'' - Comédie gratante
* 2001: ''Double Tour'' - Comedy
* 2001: ''The Treatment'' - Comedy
* 2001: ''L'Abîme'' - Comédie
* 2001: ''Agitato'' - Drama
* 2001: ''15 for me!'' - Squeaky Comedy
* 2001: ''L'Appel'' - Comédie gratante
* 2001: ''De Toulouse à Bordeaux'' - Comédie gratante
* 2001: ''Sphères'' - Comédie gratante
* 2001: ''Au Fil de l'onde'' - Comédie gratante
* 2002: ''Jeux de scène'' - Comédie gratante
* 2006: ''The Seven Deadly Sins: Avarice'' - Co-author
* 2009: ''Alma and Jeremiah''
Actor
* 1976: ''Isaac and the Midwife'' by Victor Haïm, directed by Étienne Bierry, Théâtre de Poche Montparnasse
* 1981: ''Attez vos violons'' by Victor Haïm, directed by Étienne Bierry, Théâtre de Poche Montparnasse
Filmography
Screenwriter
* 1978: ''An Enemy of the People'' TV, (French adaptation)
* 1979: ''The Handmaid's Aid'' TV
* 1980: ''The Incorrigibles'' (TV series)
* 1980 : ''Le Petit Théâtre d'Antenne 2'' (TV series)
* 1985: ''Between Cats and Wolves'' (TV, dialogue)
* 1992: ''Fear'' TV
* 1995: ''Nestor Burma''
* 1996: ''Cruel Wedding'' (adaptation and dialogue)
Film actor
* ''Blame It on Rio'' ''(''1984) as Bernardo
* 1986: ''Paulette, the Poor Little Billionaire'': A Distinguished Guest
* Isabelle ''Eberhardt'' (1991) as
Dr. Taste
* 1992: ''My Engagement to Hilda'' as Father
* 1993: ''The Navel of the World''
* 1997: ''The Truth If I Lie!''
* 2001: ''The Truth If I Lie! 2'': Rabbi
* 2004: ''Tout pour l'sorreille'': l'usher
* 2007 : ''Délice Paloma'' : Monsieur Herad
* 2007 : ''La Déchirure'', short film by Mikael Buch : the rabbi
* 2015: ''The Antiquarian'' by François Margolin: Claude Weinstein's friend
Television actor
* 1978: ''Il était un musicien'', episode: ''Monsieur Satie'' by Jean Valère (series) : Satie's lawyer
* 1980 : ''Le Petit Théâtre d'Antenne 2'' (series)
* 1982: ''The New Tiger Brigades'' by Victor Vicas, episode ''The Vampires of the Carpathians'' by Victor Vicas as the Doctor
* ''Farewell Don Juan'' (1989) as Omar
* 1993 : ''Commissaire Moulin'' (series) : Professor Rosenberg
* 1996 : ''Commandant Nerval'' (série) : Dimitrie
* 1998: ''When an Angel Passes'' by as Mr. Leone
* 2000: ''The Teacher: The Professor''
* 2000: ''The Lawyer'' (series) as President
* 2003: ''The Gift made to Catchaires'': Yehuda
* 2003: ''The Year of My Seven Years'' as Sam
* 2004: ''The Client''
* 2004 : ''Central Nuit'' (series) : Margol
* 2008 : ''La Traque'' : Geissman
Publication
* ''Les Fantaisies microcosmiques'', collectif, L'Avant-Scène Théâtre, collection Des Quatre Vents, 2004.
Distinctions
(Pour son œuvre théâtrale)
* 1971 : prix Ibsen avec ''La Peau d'un fruit''
* 1974 : prix des « U » de la pièce la plus originale de l'année pour ''Abraham et Samuel''
* 1977 : prix Lugné-Poe de la SACD pour ''La Servante, Isaac et la Sage-Femme''
* 1986 : prix Plaisir du théâtre pour ''Les Fantasmes du boucher''
* 1986 : prix du théâtre de la SACD pour l'ensemble de son œuvre
* 1986 : prix Jacques Audiberti pour ''La Valse du hasard''
* Molières 1994 : nomination au Molière du meilleur auteur francophone vivant pour ''Chair amour''
* 2001 : prix Charles Oulmont-Fondation de France pour l'ensemble de son Å“uvre
* Molières 2003 : Molière du meilleur auteur francophone vivant pour ''Jeux de scène''
* 2003 : Grand prix du théâtre de l’Académie française pour l'ensemble de son œuvre
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haim, Victor
1935 births
Living people
20th-century French dramatists and playwrights
21st-century French dramatists and playwrights
French Holocaust survivors
French male film actors
Greek Holocaust survivors