Born in Cherbourg, Normandie, France. A former journalist and film critic, he began writing scripts for movies and TV in the early 60s and in the early 70s turned to directing with two prize-winning shorts -- LES DERNIERS HIVER and UNE BELLE JOURNÉE. He piloted his first feature in 1973 and in 1976 enjoyed unexpected success in the American market with COUSIN, COUSINE, a story of adultery among married couples which was nominated for an Oscar as best foreign picture and won the Louis Delluc Prize in France in 1975. Although he is regarded at home as a capable filmmaker, skilled at blending tenderness and humor in the facile texture of his films, he has never matched the international success he had achieved with that film. He writes his own scripts. His TRAVELLING-AVANT ("Tracking Shot" or "Do In", 1987) was largely autobigraphical. His most recent films as writer and director are DAMES GALANTES / GALLANT LADIES (1990), L'HOMME DE MA VIE / THE MAN OF MY LIFE (1992), TOUS LES JOURS DIMANCHE / SEVEN SUNDAYS (1995) and LES GENS QUI S'AIMENT / PEOPLE WHO LOVE EACH OTHER (1999).  Nominated for Writing (Best Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1976: COUSIN, COUSINE (w. Daniele Thompson) 1 nomination