Aurel, Jean

(November 6, 1925, Rasvolitza, Romania-August 26, 1996, Paris, France)

   He was born in a train near Rasvolitza, a Romanian city. Having graduated from IDHEC, he was briefly a film critic for weekly review Arts. In 1948, he co-directed his first documentary short (Joan Miro). Following an experience of filmed news editor, he was assistant director to Augusto Genina (1955 Frou Frou / UK and USA: The Toy Wife, France / Italy; La figlia di Mata Hari / La Fille de Mata Hari / UK: Daughter of Mata Hari / USA: Mata Hari's Daughter, Carmine Gallone, Renzo Merusi, Italy / France). From 1956 (C'est arrivé à Aden, Michel Boisrond), he began a career of screenwriter working with such renowned directors as René Clair (1957 Porte des Lilas / Quartiere dei lillà / UK: Gate of Lilacs / USA: The Gates of Paris, France / Italy), Jacques Becker (Le Trou / Il buco / UK: The Hole / USA: The Watch, France / Italy), and later François Truffaut (1979 L'Amour en Fuite / UK and USA: Love on the Run; 1981 La Femme d'à Côté / UK and USA: The Woman Next Door, 1983 Vivement Dimanche / UK: Finally, Sunday / USA: Confidentially Yours). In 1961, he should have directed La Bride sur le Cou / A briglia sciolta / UK and USA: Please, Not Now! / USA: Only for Love, but he had to let Roger Vadim have his place after a few days of shooting. His first feature film was a documentary co-written by Cécil Saint-Laurent (14-18 / USA: Over There, 1963). He also played in two films (1973 Vivre ensemble, Anna Karina; 1974 La Bonzesse, François Jouffa).

 Filmography

        ◘ Joan Mirô (documentary; short; co-director with Charles Estienne)

        ◘ Kandinsky (documentary; short; co-director with Jean-Claude Sée)

1951 ◘ LAffaire Manet (documentary; short; also screenwriter)

        ◘ La Dame à la Licorne (documentary; short)

        ◘ Fêtes galantes: Le Peintre Watteau (documentary; short)

1952 ◘ Cœur d'Amour épris du Roi René (documentary; short)

        ◘ Les Aventures extraordinaires de Jules Verne / Voy­ages extraordinaires de Jules Verne (documentary; short; also screenwriter)

1954 ◘ Embarquement pour le Ciel (short; also screenwriter)

1961 ◘ La Bride sur le Cou / A briglia sciolta / UK and USA: Please, Not Now! / USA: Only for Love (Jean Aurel directed a few scenes of that movie completed by Roger Vadim; France / Italy)

        ◘ 14-18 / USA: Over There (documentary; also producer)

        ◘ La Bataille de France (documentary; also co-screenwriter, producer, editor)

        ◘ De l'Amour / La calda pelle / UK: All About Lov­ing (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter; France / Italy)

        ◘ Lamiel (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter; France / Italy)

        ◘ Manon 70 / Hemmungslose Manon (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter, co-dialogist; France / West Germany)

        ◘ Les Femmes / UK: Women / USA: The Vixen (France / Italy)

        ◘ Êtes-vous fiancée à un Marin grec ou à un Pilote de Ligne? / Sono un marito infedele (also co-screenwriter, co-adapter; France / Italy)

1974 ◘ ... Comme un Pot de Fraises!

1985 ◘ Staline (documentary; also screenwriter)