Bruce Beresford

Director
Producer
Writer

The true story of ballet dancer Li Cunxin, from his humble origins and training in Beijing to his American defection and later move to Australia.

Play trailer2:27

Mao's Last Dancer (2009)

Bruce Beresford was born in Australia and graduated from Sydney University in 1962. He served as Film Officer for the British Film Institute Production Board from 1966-1971 and as a Film Advisor to the Arts Council of Great Britain. Beresford has also directed several operas including Girl Of The Golden West (Puccini), staged for the Spoleto Festival in Charleston and Spoleto (Italy) and Elektra (Strauss), which was staged for the State Opera Company of South Australia and performed in Adelaide and Melbourne. It won the Award for Best Opera Production of 1991. Immediately prior to starting production on PARADISE ROAD, Beresford directed SWEENEY TODD for the Portland Opera in Oregon.

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Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 9 wins & 35 nominations total

Photos25

+ 18

Known for

Miss Daisy et son chauffeur

7.3

Director

1989

Héros ou salopards

7.8

Director

1980

Aux frontières de la ville

6.7

Director

1986

Mr. Church

7.6

Director(directed by)

2016

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director

Les Petites robes noires
6.8
- Director
- 2018
Flint
6.2
TV Movie
- Director
- 2017
Racines
7.9
TV Mini Series
- Director
- 2016
Mr. Church
7.6
- Director (directed by)
- 2016
Bonnie & Clyde
6.4
TV Mini Series
- Director
- 2013
H.H. Dalai Lama: Essence of Mahayana Buddhism
Video
- Director
- 2011
Peace, Love & Misunderstanding
5.9
- Director
- 2011
Mao's Last Dancer
7.3
- Director
- 2009
Orpheus
5.0
TV Movie
- Director
- 2006
Le contrat
5.6
- Director
- 2006
Pancho Villa
6.5
TV Movie
- Director
- 2003
Evelyn
7.0
- Director
- 2002
Alma, la fiancée du vent
5.7
- Director
- 2001
Double jeu
6.5
- Director (directed by)
- 1999
Sydney: A Story of a City
4.8
- Director
- 1999

Producer

Barracuda
5.6
- executive producer
- 2017
Surprise
6.1
Short
- executive producer
- 2015
Canvas
6.5
- co-executive producer
- 2006
Curse of the Starving Class
5.5
- executive producer
- 1994
Un Anglais sous les tropiques
5.1
- producer
- 1994
Aux frontières de la ville
6.7
- producer
- 1986
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
5.4
- producer
- 1974
Magritte: The False Mirror
Short
- producer
- 1970
Paradigm
6.3
Short
- producer
- 1970
You're Human Like the Rest of Them
6.9
Short
- producer
- 1967
Film for Guitar
Short
- producer
- 1966
King-size Woman
5.7
Short
- producer
- 1965
Clement Meadmore
Short
- producer
- 1963
The Devil to Pay
Short
- producer
- 1962
The Hunter
Short
- producer
- 1959

Writer

Les Petites robes noires
6.8
- screenplay
- 2018
Paradise Road
6.8
- written by
- 1997
Curse of the Starving Class
5.5
- screenplay
- 1994
Aria
5.7
- Writer (segment "Die tote Stadt")
- 1987
Aux frontières de la ville
6.7
- screenplay
- 1986
Héros ou salopards
7.8
- screenplay by
- 1980
L'attaque du fourgon blindé
6.5
- screenplay
- 1978
Side by Side
6.0
- original screenplay
- 1975
Barry McKenzie Holds His Own
5.4
- written in collaboration with
- 1974
The Adventures of Barry McKenzie
5.6
- screenplay
- 1972

In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos4

Clip 1:38

Mao's Last Dancer: Â“Looking for a ReplacementÂ”

Clip 0:54

Mao's Last Dancer -- "Muffin"

Clip 0:54

Mao's Last Dancer -- "Muffin"

Personal details

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Official site
- Spectator Australia
Born
- August 16, 1940
- Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Spouses
Children
- Cordelia Beresford
Parents
Other works
Directed a nine minute film, "The End", as part of The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972)' stage revue "Just A Show", parodying Australian underground movies, under the pseudonym Martin Agrippa.
Publicity listings
- 1 Article

Did you know

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Trivia
His favorite films according to the 'Sight and Sound' Top Ten poll: Falstaff (1965), The Apu Trilogy (La complainte du sentier (1955), L'invaincu (1956), Le monde d'Apu (1959)), Ludwig ou le crépuscule des dieux (1973), La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (1928), La poursuite infernale (1946), Fanny et Alexandre (1982), La règle du jeu (1939), Huit heures de sursis (1947), La strada (1954) and La Chute du faucon noir (2001).

Quotes
[on Tendre bonheur (1983) and lead actor Robert Duvall] Duvall was strange. First of all he was and is a great actor. You could ask him to do a scene five, six times and he'd do it exactly the same way every time. But, on the other hand, there would be delays, like we had to wire up a whole house and he'd just get restless. He'd get mad.

FAQ

How old is Bruce Beresford?
84 years old
When was Bruce Beresford born?
August 16, 1940
Where was Bruce Beresford born?
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
What is Bruce Beresford known for?
Breaker Morant, The Fringe Dwellers, Driving Miss Daisy, and Mr. Church
Is Bruce Beresford married?
Yes, to Virginia Duigan since 1985