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 A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which rou ...

and taught for two years at the Jesuit-run Loyola College in Montreal (now part of

Concordia University Concordia University ( French: ''Université Concordia'') is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University, Concordia is one of the t ...

). 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 magazine ...

'' and '' Objectif''. He directed his first film, a short drama, then three independent features. He joined the National Film Board of Canada and made two films, including the 1968 feature '' My Friend Pierrette (Mon amie Pierrette)'', co-starring Raôul Duguay and produced by

Clément Perron Clément Perron (July 3, 1929 – October 12, 1999) was a Canadian film director and screenwriter. Early life and education Perron was born in Quebec City, Quebec. After graduating from the University of Laval with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosop ...

. 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. He writes and produces all his own films. Lefebvre was one of the first Canadian filmmakers to receive international acclaim for his work; his film ''

Don't Let It Kill You ''Don't Let It Kill You'' (french: Il ne faut pas mourir pour ça) is a 1967 French-Canadian feature from Jean Pierre Lefebvre. It is the first film in his "Abel Trilogy", followed by ''The Old Country Where Rimbaud Died (Le Vieux pays où Rimbaud ...

(Il ne faut pas mourir pour ça)'' (1967) was the first Canadian film to be invited to the Cannes Film Festival. 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 section. His 1973 film '' The Last Betrothal (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 ''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 mourir ...

'' (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 centr ...

. In 1991, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his innovative and high-quality feature films". In 1995 he was awarded the Prix Albert-Tessier. In 2013, Lefebvre received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award.Governor General's Performing Arts Awards – Award Recipients
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Filmography

Features

*'' The Revolutionary (Le révolutionnaire)'' – 1965 *''

(Il ne faut pas mourir pour ça)'' – 1967 *''

Patricia and Jean-Baptiste ''Patricia and Jean-Baptiste'' (french: Patricia et Jean-Baptiste) is a Canadian comedy-drama film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1968.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 168. The film star ...

(Patricia et Jean-Baptiste)'' – 1968 *'' My Friend Pierrette (Mon amie Pierrette)'' – 1969 *'' Straight to the Heart (Jusqu'au coeur)'' – 1969 *''

The House of Light ''The House of Light'' (french: La Chambre blanche, lit. "The White Room") is a Canadian drama film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1969.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 102. The film sta ...

(La chambre blanche)'' – 1969 *''

Q-Bec My Love ''Q-Bec My Love'' (french: Un succès commercial, ou Q-Bec My Love) is a Canadian film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1970.Gerald Pratley, ''Torn Sprockets: The Uncertain Projection of the Canadian Film''. University of Delawar ...

(Un succès commercial, ou Q-bec My Love)'' – 1970 *''

Those Damned Savages ''Those Damned Savages'' (french: Les maudits sauvages) is a Canadian drama film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1971.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 217. A satirical critique of colonia ...

(Les maudits sauvages)'' – 1971 *'' My Eye (Mon œil)'' – 1971 *'' Ultimatum'' – 1973 *'' The Last Betrothal (Les dernières fiançailles)'' – 1973 *''

Pigs Are Seldom Clean ''Pigs Are Seldom Clean'' (french: On n'engraisse pas les cochons à l'eau claire, lit. "One Doesn't Fatten Pigs in Clean Water") is a Canadian drama film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1973.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canad ...

(On n'engraisse pas les cochons à l'eau claire)'' – 1973 *''

Confidences of the Night ''Confidences of the Night'' (french: L'Amour blessé, lit. "Wounded Love") is a 1975 Canadian drama film written and directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 47. The film stars Lo ...

(L'amour blessé)'' – 1975 *''

The Man from the Movies ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

(Le gars des vues)'' – 1976 *'' The Old Country Where Rimbaud Died (Le vieux pays où Rimbaud est mort)'' – 1977 *''

To Be Sixteen ''To Be Sixteen'' (french: Avoir 16 ans) is a Canadian drama film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1979.Gerald Pratley, ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. . p. 219. The film stars Yves Benoît as Louis, a 16-year ...

(Avoir 16 ans)'' – 1979 *'' Wild Flowers (Les fleurs sauvages)'' – 1982 *'' Le jour S...'' – 1984 *'' The Box of Sun (La boite à soleil)'' – 1988 *''

The Fabulous Voyage of the Angel ''The Fabulous Voyage of the Angel'' (french: Le fabuleux voyage de l'ange) is a Canadian fantasy comedy film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1991. The film stars Daniel Lavoie as Francis, a taxi driver and comic book artist who ...

(Le fabuleux voyage de l'ange)'' – 1991 *'' Now or Never (Aujourd'hui ou jamais)'' – 1998 *''La Route des cieux'' - 2010

Other Work

*''L'homoman'' (Short film, 1964) *''

To the Rhythm of My Heart ''To the Rhythm of My Heart'' (french: Au rythme de mon cœur) is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Jean Pierre Lefebvre and released in 1983. Made during his national tour of Canada for a 1981 retrospective of his films compiled by the Can ...

(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)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lefebvre, Jean Pierre 1941 births Living people Canadian film editors Canadian film producers Canadian screenwriters in French Canadian male television actors Canadian male film actors Officers of the Order of Canada Film directors from Montreal French Quebecers Male actors from Montreal Writers from Montreal National Film Board of Canada people Governor General's Performing Arts Award winners Prix Albert-Tessier winners