An indisputable icon and doyenne of French cinema, Micheline Presle died at the dawn of her 102nd birthday, Wednesday February 21. Born in 1922, she began her career in the 1930s. She collaborated with the greatest filmmakers of her time, marking the history of cinema by appearing in more than a hundred films over eight decades. France Télévisions pays tribute to him this Friday.
Micheline Presle in one of her first films, “Paradise Lost”. © Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation
From Jacques Demy to Alain Resnais, via Claude Chabrol, Patrick Chesnais and even Édouard Molinaro, Sacha Guitry and Jacques Becker, Micheline Presle has spanned eight decades of French cinema. With The Devil in the body (Claude Autant-Lara, 1947) alongside Gérard Philipe, the actress inscribed her performance in the memory of the seventh art. As in more contemporary works, such as Venus Beauty (Institute) (1999) et France Shop (2003), both directed by his daughter, Tonie Marshall.
France Télévisions pays tribute to Micheline Presle by broadcasting two of her films.
Midnight Cinema – Lost paradise (1940) by Abel Gance
Restored version.
Pierre, a talented young painter, meets the pretty Janine during the beautiful summer of 1914. But it’s war, mobilization. Heartbreak of separation for newlyweds. Janine, left alone, works despite her poor health and her pregnancy. She died giving birth to little Jeannette. At the front, Pierre is informed of the grief that has struck him, and also of his paternity. At first, he doesn’t even want to know about the baby who killed his wife. After the war, however, he overcomes his pain and agrees to raise his daughter. He is very moved to find, when she grows up, the same beauty, the same facial expressions, the same way of singing their dear song – and for good reason, it is Micheline Presle who plays both roles.
Bobosse by Étienne Perier (1941)
Parallel between the life of Bobosse, a theatrical character that Tony Varlet plays every evening, and Tony himself. When he returns home, he has the unpleasant surprise of noticing the absence of his wife, who will not return. Like Bobosse in the play, Tony tolerates this absence less well than his character. He even caused a scandal on stage the next day. However, Bobosse’s wisdom will prevail and Tony will accept the return of his beloved wife without asking for explanations.
Bobosse will be available on france.tv from Wednesday February 28
Published on February 22, 2024