About
French film critic and theorist known for his revolutionary ideas about cinema needing to imitate reality, rather than warping it. He started to write about film in 1943 and was a co-founder of the renowned film magazine Cahiers du cinéma in 1951. At age 40 he passed away from leukemia.
Before Fame
He worked with Labour and Culture during World War II, a militant organization associated with the French Communist party.
Trivia
A collection of his writings on film was published posthumously under the title, "What is Cinema?" Parts of this work have become staples in film courses of the English-speaking world. He was said to be heavily influenced by Roman Catholicism. The 1959 movie The 400 Blows was dedicated to him.
Family Life
He met film and TV producer Janine Kirsch during World War II and they married in 1949. Together they had a son, Florent.
Associated With
Richard Linklater's film Waking Life features a conversation between a filmmaker and poet about some of Bazin's film theories.
