Ginette Vincendeau on Jean Gabin
Jean Gabin: Anatomy of a Myth
Wednesday 2 May, 6.20pm, National Film Theatre 2
The ‘myth’ of Jean Gabin is central to understanding popular French cinema. Remarkably, the much-loved star projected – with equal authenticity – both tragic working-class heroes in the 1930s in such classics as Le Jour se lève, and bourgeois criminal Godfathers after the war, from Touchez pas au grisbi onwards. In this illustrated talk, Ginette Vincendeau explores the continuities between the two parts of Gabin’s career and the complexities in his projection of charismatic ‘ordinariness’.
Ginette Vincendeau is Professor in Film Studies at King’s College London. She has written widely on popular French cinema.
Among her books are Stars and Stardom in French cinema (2000), Jean-Pierre Melville, An American in Paris (2003) and La Haine (2005).
She has just completed a book on Brigitte Bardot.
Part of the King’s@BFI : Key Scholars in Film Studies seminar series
Please see the BFI website for further details of the Jean Gabin Season and to book tickets.