Bruno Dumont

Born on 14 March 1958, Bruno Dumont is a renowned French film director and screenwriter. His directing career boasts a wide range of feature films that beautifully balance between realistic drama and the avant-garde. His contribution to cinema has been recognized at renowned platforms such as the Cannes Film Festival, where his films have won several awards. Notably, his creations, L'Humanité (1999) and Flandres (2006) both won the Grand Prix award.

Dumont’s background comprises Greek and German (Western) philosophy, and corporate video. His early work tends to focus on harsh realities, depicting extreme violence and provocative sexual behavior; these works are often considered to fall within the genre of art films. His more recent work includes novel twists to genres such as comedy and musicals. His unique cinematic style includes long takes, the use of close-ups, and narratives filled with heightened emotions. Drawing inspiration from visual arts, Dumont doesn't use scripts in the traditional sense; rather, he writes complete novels as the basis for his filmmaking. A proponent of raw, unadulterated performances, Dumont frequently casts nonprofessional actors and considers anyone capable of embodying truth. His work has been linked with the recent trend in French cinema characterized as 'cinéma du corps' or ‘cinema of the body’. He is particularly admired for his focus on the ‘corporeal’ and is considered a creative heir to Robert Bresson.