Gérard Blain

Once dubbed 'The French James Dean', he began to depart from type playing a gangster caught by Dennis Hopper in Wim Wenders' "Der Amerikanische Freund/The American Friend" (1977). As he approached middle age, Blain moved behind the camera as a screenwriter and director of minimalist, neutrally observed features that nonetheless displayed a passion in its humanity. His first effort was "Les Amis/The Friends" (1971) and went on to act, write and direct "Le Pelican" (1973). His work in the 80s included "Le Rebelle" (1980), but he received more notice for "Pierre et Djemilia" (1987), a tale set in a northern industrial town that focused on a the star-crossed relationship between a teenage Frenchman and the 14-year old Algerian with whom he falls in love. More recently, Blain wrote, directed and starred in "Jusqu'au bout de la nuit/Until the End of the Night" (1994), about a rebellious man and his disastrous romantic relationship.