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Jean-Claude Carrière

Jean-Claude Carrière

Writer and actor · Died February 8, 2021, aged 89 · Colombières-sur-Orb, Hérault, France

Jean-Claude Carrière (17 September 1931 – 8 February 2021) was a French novelist, screenwriter and actor. He received an Academy Award for best short film for co-writing Heureux Anniversaire (1963), and was later conferred an Honorary Oscar in 2014. He was nominated for the Academy Award three other times for his work in The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), That Obscure Object of Desire (1977), and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). He also won a César Award for Best Original Screenplay in The Return of Martin Guerre (1983). Carrière was an alumnus of the École normale supérieure de Saint-Cloud and was president of La Fémis, the French state film school that he helped establish. He was noted as a frequent collaborator with Luis Buñuel on the screenplays of the latter's late French films.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 17, 1931
Died
February 8, 2021 (aged 89)
From
Colombières-sur-Orb, Hérault, France
Works as
Writer and actor
Titles
67 on MovieCove · 147 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 59% in 30 days

What are Jean-Claude Carrière's films like?

Across their 67 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama27 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy20 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Biography6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
25%
Self
23%
Power
18%
Society
11%
Morality
9%
Survival
7%
Ideas
6%
Romantic love20 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom8 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass6 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression7 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 66 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 24 · Serious 18 · Dark 24

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 21 · Stylized 33 · Heightened 12

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 19 · Charged 31 · Intense 16

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 39 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 6

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 40 · Some laughs 19 · Funny 7

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 41 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 33 · Full focus 12

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 22 · Affecting 23 · Heavy 21

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 29 · Open-ended 18 · Ambiguous 19

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Melancholic
29
Contemplative
24
Absurd
16
Warm
14
Other
53

How their films linger

Thought-provoking36 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet20
  • Tragic12
  • Ambiguous23
  • Cyclical2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jean-Claude Carrière's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 67 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Criterion Channel (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean-Claude Carrière's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

147 credits, 67 with a MovieCove page; 52 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Plough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Screenplay

  • L'ombre de Goya par Jean-Claude Carrière(2022)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Land of Dreams(2021)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Innocent(2022)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Crusade(2021)

    In Memory Of · Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Salt of Tears(2020)

    Dialogue · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • A Faithful Man(2018)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • At Eternity's Gate(2018)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Collection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Monsieur Klein

  • Lover for a Day(2017)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • A Bigger Splash(2015)

    Adaptation · Dialogue

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • In the Shadow of Women(2015)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Petrov File (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Writer

  • The Patience Stone(2012)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Artist and the Model(2012)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Harold et Maude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Writer

  • Memories of My Melancholy Whores(2011)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Carrière, 250 Meters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Screenplay · as Self

  • Certified Copy(2010)

    as The Man at the Square

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Ulzhan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Scenario Writer

  • Marie-Antoinette(2006)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Pierre Reymond

  • Goya's Ghosts(2006)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Avida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Le richa paranoïaque

  • Belle toujours(2006)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Birth(2004)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Les Thibault (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 4 episodes · as Maître Roubiot

  • Letter from an Unknown Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Writer

  • Ruy Blas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Screenplay

  • Biblioteca Mindlin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Actor

  • The Battle of Hernani (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Writer

  • Bunuel and King Solomon's Table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as David Goldman

  • Madame De... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Writer · as Le ministre

  • Bérénice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Writer

  • Salsa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Writer

  • Broken Dolls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Story

  • Clarissa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

  • War in the Highlands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

  • Les paradoxes de Buñuel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Screenplay · as Self

  • Chinese Box(1997)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Ogre(1996)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Golden Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Writer

  • The Associate(1996)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Horseman on the Roof(1995)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • La duchesse de Langeais (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Writer

  • The Night and the Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Screenplay · as The Governor

  • Sommersby(1993)

    Original Film Writer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Dispute in Valladolid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • The Return of Casanova (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Writer

  • At Play in the Fields of the Lord(1991)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Bouvard et Pécuchet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Récitant

  • Cyrano de Bergerac(1990)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Mahabharata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · Theatre Play · Writer

  • Hard to Be a God(1989)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • May Fools(1990)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Mahabharata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Theatre Play · Writer

  • Valmont(1989)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • J'écris dans l'espace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Screenplay

  • L'héritage de la chouette(1989)

    Show 13 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Silent Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Screenplay

  • The Bengali Night(1988)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Possessed(1988)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Unbearable Lightness of Being(1988)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Discoveries of a Modern Couple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Writer

  • What Every Frenchwoman Wants(1986)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Max My Love(1986)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Oviri(1986)

    Scenario Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Sea Workers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Writer

  • L'unique (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Dialogue · Writer

  • La joven y la tentación(1986)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lancement réussi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Scenario Writer

  • Vive les femmes ! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as The deaf-mute

  • Swann in Love(1984)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • L'aide-mémoire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer

  • The Tragedy of Carmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • The General of the Dead Army (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • Side Roads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • Credo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Writer

  • Danton(1983)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Antonieta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer

  • L'Indiscrétion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer

  • The Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer

  • Godard's Passion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Writer

  • The Return of Martin Guerre(1982)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • La Cerisaie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Adaptation

  • La Double Vie de Théophraste Longuet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · Adaptation · Dialogue

  • Circle of Deceit(1981)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • L'Amour nu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Le professeur

  • Black Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Screenplay

  • Lundi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Dialogue · Screenplay

  • Every Man for Himself(1980)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Associate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Dialogue · Screenplay · as Un homme présent à la lecture du testament · as Un homme à la lecture du testament (uncredited)

  • Return to the Beloved(1979)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Tin Drum(1979)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Ils sont grands ces petits(1979)

    Writer · as Le psychiatre (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • L'homme en colère(1979)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Beef Cattle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Writer

  • Photo-souvenir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Writer · as Prof. Henri Quissard

  • Surprise Sock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Writer · as Fournier

  • Un papillon sur l'épaule(1978)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Le Franc-tireur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Writer

  • That Obscure Object of Desire(1977)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Julie pot-de-colle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Writer

  • Le gang(1977)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Game of Solitaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Luc

  • The Garden of Torment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as The ship's captain

  • Jack the Ripper(1976)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Leonor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Writer

  • The Flesh of the Orchid(1975)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Serious as Pleasure(1975)

    Writer · as Le chef d'etage (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Weak Spot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Screenplay

  • The Woman with Red Boots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Screenplay

  • The Phantom of Liberty(1974)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Life Size (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Writer

  • France, Incorporated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Writer

  • Dorothea's Rache(1974)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Un amour de pluie(1974)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Outside Man(1972)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Monk(1972)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie(1972)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Right to Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Screenplay

  • Liza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Writer

  • A Few Hours of Sunlight(1971)

    Screenplay · as François

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Taking Off(1971)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Wedding Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Writer · as Hugues

  • Borsalino(1970)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Le Grand Amour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Screenplay

  • The Milky Way(1969)

    Writer · as Priscillian

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Swimming Pool(1969)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Nail Clippers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

  • For a Distant Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Writer

  • Belle de Jour(1967)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Thief of Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Screenplay

  • The Diabolical Dr. Z (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Screenplay

  • Attack of the Robots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Screenplay

  • Hotel Paradiso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Writer

  • As Long as You've Got Your Health (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Writer

  • Viva Maria!(1965)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Bestiary of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Writer

  • The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 13 episodes · Writer

  • Yoyo(1965)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Diary of a Chambermaid(1964)

    Writer · as Le curé

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Happy Anniversary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · Co-Writer

  • Insomnia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Writer

  • The Suitor(1962)

    Screenplay · as TV presenter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Rupture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director · Co-Writer

  • Micromeo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Writer

Career shape

A full career of 142 titles, 141 of them dated from 1961 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Sommersby (1993)

$140M worldwide

Highest rated

That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

What Every Frenchwoman Wants (1986)

Film career

  • 1962Screen debut· The Suitor

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting24 of 142: 12 only acting, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score86thDirecting3 of 142: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting129 of 142: 113 only writing, 16 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thOther crew2 of 142: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

142 titles, 16 with more than one role — writing and acting overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1960s20 · 3 acting · 20 crew1970s33 · 9 acting · 31 crew1980s35 · 2 acting · 33 crew1990s20 · 2 acting · 19 crew2000s16 · 6 acting · 11 crew2010s13 · 2 acting · 11 crew2020s4 · crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Jean-Claude Carrière's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 66; across their 66 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 66

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 66

Reach · how many have seen their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 66

Midcredits score across 67 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 67 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser33
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · writer

La joven y la tentación (1986)

86th percentile spread · 56% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

That Obscure Object of Desire (1977)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 55/100 and the plot and story 47/100 in their films, across 58 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jean-Claude Carrière's work okay for kids?

Across up to 21 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles20–51 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity21 titles21–72 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles9–38 · median 24 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles28–54 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense13 titles29–51 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jean-Claude Carrière work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean-Claude Carrière's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jacques Deray shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles