Anecdotes

Malle avoided repeating himself - tried to explore something different in every film he made. And he liked to take his time making films, which is why he avoided working with Hollywood.

He originally planned to direct La petite (1978), a film about photographer E.J. Bellocq, with the intention of casting Jane Fonda as the mother and Jodie Foster as the daughter. The former actress was unavailable due to a schedule conflict, while the latter actress turned down the role for a fear of being typecast as a nymphet.

Planned to direct a political satire "Moon Over Miami," starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The film was canceled due to Belushi's death in 1982.

Before turning to film studies, he studied political science at the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) in Paris.

Born as fifth of seven children to a wealthy industrialist family. His grandfather Henri Béghin had founded the sugar company "Béghin which diversified into many sectors under the aegis of his uncle Ferdinand . who later merged the company with the Say entity and it became Béghin-Say.

Went to several Catholic boarding schools, which inspired him to make one of his greatest movies, Au revoir les enfants (1987).

Directed 3 actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Burt Lancaster (Best Actor, Atlantic City (1980)), Susan Sarandon (Best Actress, Atlantic City (1980)), and Miranda Richardson (Best Supporting Actress, Fatale (1992)).

Was voted the 40th Greatest Director of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1993

Son-in-law of Edgar Bergen and Frances Bergen.

Ancient student at L'IDHEC (La FEMIS)

Ex-brother-in-law of Dorothy Lyman.

He has directed one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Atlantic City (1980).

Brother-in-law of Kris Bergen.

Nephew Frederic Malle runs a perfume house in France.

He has directed one film that has been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Atlantic City (1980).

Biography in John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985," pp. 639-646. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.