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Florian Zeller

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Florian Zeller
Zeller in 2021
Zeller in 2021
Born (1979-06-28) June 28, 1979 (age 45)
Paris, France
OccupationNovelist, playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, film director
NationalityFrench
GenreLiterary fiction
Years active2002–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2010)​
Children2

Florian Zeller (French: [zɛlɛʁ];[1] born 28 June 1979[2]) is a French novelist, playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, and film director. He has written over a dozen plays, that have been staged worldwide and have made him one of the most celebrated contemporary playwrights.[3][4][5]

Zeller wrote and directed his first film, 2020's The Father, based on his play of the same name, starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. The film received more than 200 nominations and awards,[6] all over the world, including two Oscars at the 93rd Academy Awards.[7] Since then, it has been cited as one of the best films of the 2020s and the 21st century.[8][9][10][11]

In 2023, Zeller received France's Legion of Honor.[12] Illustrious recipients of France's highest decoration includes Robert Redford, Miles Davis, David Lynch, Charlie Chaplin or Josephine Baker.[12]

Early life and education

[edit]

Florian Zeller was born in Paris in 1979, the middle child of three. He was raised by his grandmother and mother, as his father worked and lived in Germany.[3] A coma caused by a serious asthma attack at the age of 15 changed the course of his life, as he said later: "I think it’s at that moment that worry and writing entered my life". He began studies at the Sciences Po, but dropped out in order to focus on his writing.[3]

Career

[edit]

Zeller wrote his first novel, Artificial Snow, when he was 22. His third novel, The Fascination of Evil, made him a household name in France.[3] It was selected for the Prix Goncourt.[13] His play, The Father, played in London's West End to critical acclaim and top listings in the Best Plays of the Year. It was considered as "the most acclaimed new play of the last decade".[14][15] and won several awards and nominations in Paris, London and New York.[16]

According to The Times, The Father is "one of the greatest plays of the century".[17]

His comedy, The Truth, opened in the West End in June 2017 and received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Comedy.[citation needed] His play, The Height of the Storm, starring Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins, opened in London's West End in September 2018 and on New York's Broadway in September 2019.[18] It has been named "best play of 2018",[19] and "one of the best plays of the 21st century" by The Guardian.[20]

His play, The Mother, starring Isabelle Huppert, opened in New York in February 2019.[21] The Son opened in London in February 2019 and transferred to the West End in September 2019 with rave reviews.[22]

His plays have been staged in more than 45 countries.[citation needed]

Films

[edit]

The Father

[edit]

Zeller wrote and directed his first film, 2020's The Father, based on his play.[23] It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 27 January 2020. The film received acclaim from critics, who lauded Hopkins and Colman's performances and praised its depiction of dementia.[24][25][26][27][28] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 98% based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 8.50/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Led by stellar performances and artfully helmed by writer-director Florian Zeller, The Father presents a devastatingly empathetic portrayal of dementia."[29] At Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 88 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[30]

At the 78th Golden Globe Awards, the film received four nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Drama. It also received six nominations at the 74th British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film, and six Oscars nominations. Zeller and Christopher Hampton won a BAFTA and an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film.

It is, according to The Times, "one of the greatest cinematic experiences of the decade".[31]

In 2021, it was included on Forbes's list of "The Top 150 Greatest Films Of The 21st Century."[8] In 2022, Time Out ranked it number 93 on its list of the "100 Best Films of the 21st Century So Far", writing that the film "communicates perfectly what dementia must feel like: a world stripped of its signposts, a feeling of being uncoupled, a sense of the familiar slowly becoming frighteningly 'other'."[9] In 2023, it ranked number 2 on Collider's list of "The 20 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far."[32] It also ranked number 27 on its list of the "30 Best Drama Movies of All Time,"[33]

The Son

[edit]

In March and April 2021, it was announced that Zeller co-wrote with Christopher Hampton, and would direct, their adaptation of The Son (which serves as Zeller's and Hampton's follow-up to The Father), with Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby to star in the film.[34][35][36] The film premiered in September 2022 at Venice Film Festival, where it earned a rare 10-minute standing ovation after the screening.[37][38]

Personal life

[edit]

Zeller lives in Paris. In 2010, he married ex-model, actress and sculptor Marine Delterme,[39][40] who played one of the main roles in the Parisian production of his play Le Manège. Their son, Roman, was born in December 2008.[41] His stepson, Gabriel, was born in 1998 to his wife and her previous partner Jean-Philippe Écoffey.[42]

Films

[edit]

Plays

[edit]
  • 2004: L'Autre
  • 2005: Le Manège
  • 2006: Si tu mourais
  • 2008: Elle t'attend
  • 2010: The Mother (2015 in London, 2019 in New York)
  • 2011: The Truth (2017 in London)
  • 2012: Le Père (The Father) (2014 in London, 2016 in New York, adapted into the 2020 film The Father)
  • 2013: Une heure de tranquillité (adapted into the 2014 film Do Not Disturb)
  • 2014: The Lie (2017 in London)
  • 2016: L'Envers du décor (adapted into the 2018 film The Other Woman)
  • 2016: The Height of the Storm (2018 in London, 2019 in New York)
  • 2018: Le Fils (The Son) (2019 in London, adapted into the 2022 film The Son)
  • 2021: The Forest (2021 in London)

Novels

[edit]
  • 2002: Artificial Snow
  • 2003: Lovers or Something Like It
  • 2004: The Fascination of Evil
  • 2006: Julien Parme
  • 2012: La Jouissance

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Cinema

[edit]
Country Award Work Result Category Ref
USA Academy Awards The Father Won Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globes Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama [43]
Nominated Best Screenplay [43]
Directors Guild of America Awards Nominated Outstanding Directorial Achievement of first-time Feature Film Director [44]
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Won Best First Film [45]
Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Nominated Best Film [46]
Nominated Best Screenplay [46]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Nominated Best Director [46]
Nominated Best First Film [46]
Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay [46]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Nominated Best Screenplay [47]
Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay [48]
Nominated Breakthrough Director [48]
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards Nominated Best Film [49]
Nominated Best First Film [49]
Nominated Best Director [49]
Nominated Best New Filmmaker [49]
Nominated Best Screenplay [49]
Chicago Indie Critics Awards Nominated Best Independent Film [50]
Nominated Best Director [50]
Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay [50]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Won Best Adapted Screenplay [51]
Nominated Best Director [51]
Houston Film Critics Society Awards Nominated Best Film [52]
Satellite Awards Nominated Best Film [53]
Nominated Best Director [53]
Won Best Adapted Screenplay [54]
Hollywood Critics Association Awards Nominated Best Film [55]
Nominated Best Screenplay [55]
Critics Choice Awards Nominated Best Screenplay [56]
Nevada Film Critics Society Awards Won Best Adapted Screenplay
Austin Film Critics Association Awards Nominated Best Screenplay [57]
Europe European Film Awards Nominated Best Film [58]
Nominated Best Director
Won Best European Screenplay [58]
UK BIFA Won Best Screenplay [59]
Nominated Best Film in 2020 [60]
Nominated Best Director in 2020 [60]
BAFTA Film Awards Nominated Best Film [61]
Nominated Outstanding British Film [61]
Won Best Adapted Screenplay [61]
London Critics Circle Film Awards Nominated Best British Film [62]
France Cesar Awards Won Best International Film [63]
Lumière Awards Nominated Best International Film [64]
Paris Film Critics Awards Won Best First Film [65]
Cinéroman Won Best Film [66]
Spain Premios CEC Nominated Best Foreign Film [67]
Goya Awards Won Best European Film [64]
Sant Jordi Awards Won Best International Film [68]
San Sebastian Audience Award Won Best Film [69]
Italy Golden Lion The Son Nominated Best Film [70]
Norway Amanda Awards The Father Nominated Best International Film
Germany Funk Seen Film Festival Awards Nominated Audience Award
Poland Polish Film Awards Won Best European Film
Sweden Guldbagge Awards Nominated Best International Film
Swedish Film Critics Circle Awards Won Best Screenplay
Denmark Bodil Awards Nominated Best International Film
Danish Film Awards Won Best Screenplay
Türkiye Turkish Film Critics Association Nominated Best International Film
Brazil Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro Nominated Best International Film
Australia AACTA Awards Nominated Best Screenplay [71]
Nominated Best Film [71]
China Golden Rooster Awards Won Best International Film [72]
The Son Nominated Best International Film [73]
Golden Panda Awards Won Best International Film [74]

Theatre

[edit]
Country Award Work Result Category Ref
USA Tony Awards The Father Nominated Best Play in 2016 [75]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Nominated Best Play in 2016
The Height of the Storm Won Best Play in 2020 [76]
Drama League Awards The Father Nominated Best Play in 2016 [77]
Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards Won Best Play in 2020 [78]
UK Laurence Olivier Awards Nominated Best Play in 2016
The Truth Nominated Best Comedy in 2017
Evening Standard Theatre Awards The Father Nominated Best Play in 2016 [79]
Theatre Awards UK Nominated Best Play in 2016
Manchester Theatre Awards Won Best Play in 2018
France Moliere Awards The Father Won Best Play in 2014
The Mother Nominated Best Play in 2011
The Son Nominated Best Play in 2018
Prix du théâtre For all his work Won Best Playwright
Académie française Awards If you were to die Won Best Play in 2006
SACD Awards All his work Won Best Playwright [80]
Japan Kikuta Kazuo Awards The Father Won Best Play in 2019 [81]
Yomiuri Awards Won Best Play in 2020
Hong Kong Hong Kong Drama Awards Won Best Play in 2018
The Truth Nominated BestPlay in 2018
Canada Jessie Richardson Awards The Father Won Best Play in 2020 [82]
Brazil Aplauso Brazil Awards Won Best Play in 2017 [83]
Israel Academy Theatre Awards Nominated Best Play in 2016
Germany Friedrich-Luft Awards Nominated Best Play in 2017
Irland Irish Times Theatre Awards Nominated Best Play in 2017
Mexico Cartelera Awards Won Best Play in 2024 [84]
Acpt Awards Won Best Play in 2024 [85]

Literature

[edit]
Award Work Result Category Ref
Prix Interallié Fascination of Evil Won Best Novel in 2004

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ Extrait de naissance No. 15/1979, LES GENS DU CINEMA ©
  3. ^ a b c d Groskop, Viv (12 October 2017). "The most exciting new theatre writer of our time". The New European. Retrieved 19 January 2024. Born in Paris in 1979...
  4. ^ Treneman, Ann (27 February 2019). "Review: The Son at Kiln Theatre, NW6". The Times.
  5. ^ "Olivier awards 2016: Judi Dench and Rufus Norris deserve their statuettes". the Guardian. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  6. ^ "The Father". IMDb.
  7. ^ "Two Oscars for 'The Father' by Florian Zeller! - Unifrance".
  8. ^ a b Hughes, Mark. "The Top 150 Greatest Films Of The 21st Century". Forbes. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b "The 100 best films of the 21st century (So far)". 6 February 2022.
  10. ^ ""Don't be so eager to be offended." the 20 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far, Ranked". Collider. 24 August 2023.
  11. ^ Maher, Kevin (10 June 2021). "give the man an Oscar! (Oh, they did)". The Father review. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b Keslassy, Elsa (6 July 2023). "'The Father' Director Florian Zeller Receives France's Legion of Honor". Variety. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  13. ^ https://www.nouvelobs.com/culture/20040908.OBS6490/la-premiere-selection-pour-le-prix-goncourt.html
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  15. ^ "The best of the decade". www.thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  16. ^ "The Father - Stage Door". www.stage-door.com. 14 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
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  18. ^ Aridi, Sara (6 February 2019). "'The Height of the Storm' Is Heading to Broadway". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Billington, Michael (17 December 2018). "Top 10 theatre shows of 2018". The Guardian.
  20. ^ "The 50 best theatre shows of the 21st century". The Guardian. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  21. ^ Fujishima, Kenji (14 February 2019). "Florian Zeller's The Mother, Starring Isabelle Huppert, Extends". TheaterMania.com.
  22. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (3 September 2019). "The Son review, Duke of York's Theatre: a uniquely emphatic and empathetic play about the terror of depression". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
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  33. ^ ""We're talking about somebody's life here." the 30 Best Drama Movies of All Time, Ranked". Collider. 25 June 2023.
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  40. ^ Appleyard, Bryan. "Florian Zeller: That je ne sais quoi" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
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