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Zabou Breitman

Zabou Breitman

Actor and director, also writer · Born October 30, 1959 (66) · Paris, France

Zabou Breitman (born Isabelle Breitman; 30 October 1959), or simply Zabou, is a French actress and director. She is the daughter of actors Jean-Claude Deret and Céline Léger. At the age of four, she appeared in her first movie. Since 1981, Zabou has acted in dozens of roles in films, TV movies, and theaters. She made her directoral debut in 2001 with Se souvenir des belles choses, for which she won a César Award for Best Debut. In 2012, she participated in Rendez-vous en terre inconnue. In 2000 she took the role of Lucille Cadeau, a French actress, in the London premiere of Ayckbourn's House & Garden at the National Theatre in London. Zabou has two children with the sculptor Fabien Chalon: Anna (1990) and Antonin (1993). Source: Article "Zabou Breitman" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 30, 1959 (66)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Actor and director, also writer
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 102 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 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Zabou Breitman's films like?

Across their 35 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Action 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
36%
Self
27%
Morality
15%
Society
7%
Power
7%
Survival
6%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 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 19 · Serious 10 · Dark 5

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 14 · Charged 16 · Intense 4

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 14

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 19 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 2

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 16 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 7

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

14 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 14 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 14
Hero
4 of 14
Shadow
4 of 14
Herald
1 of 14
Threshold guardian
1 of 14
Show the 14 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
14
Absurd
12
Tense
10
Joyful
9
Melancholic
10
Other
27

How their films linger

Feel-good16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous6
  • Cyclical1

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 Zabou Breitman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Zabou Breitman'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

102 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Les princes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Borghese

  • Le Teckel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Actor

  • Mauvaise pioche(2026)

    as Michèle

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Alter Ego(2026)

    as Nicole Lecovec

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Lucky Star(2025)

    as Madeleine

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Y'a pas de réseau(2025)

    as Jeanine Tudor

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Anges & Cie(2025)

    as Séraphine

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Cassandre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Mère

  • The Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director · Screenplay · as Self

  • Start Me Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Chachou

  • Super Papa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Sylvie

  • 14 Days to Feel Better (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Clara

  • The New Look(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Madame Zehnacker

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Fleur bleue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Fleur's mother

  • Ma langue au chat(2023)

    as Laure

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Grand Restaurant IV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Murder Party(2022)

    as Emmanuelle

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Logiquimperturbabledufou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Director · Writer

  • Un homme d'honneur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 6 episodes · as Laure Constantine

  • The Devil Inside(2020)

    as Catherine

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Encore un peu de patience mon amour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Dr. Brigitte Joubert

  • La Dame de chez Maxim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Stage Director

  • The Swallows of Kabul(2019)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Poor Bastards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Le gendre de ma vie(2018)

    as Christelle

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Paris etc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Creator · Screenplay · as Gil

  • Mr & Mme Adelman(2017)

    as La directrice de l'école d'Arthur

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Pauline's Law, Bad Seed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Maître Pauline

  • He Even Has Your Eyes(2016)

    as Claire Mallet

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Box 27 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Patricia

  • Baden Baden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Ana's Mother

  • Après moi le bonheur(2016)

    as Véronique

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Arrête ton cinéma ! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Ingrid

  • Thank You for Calling(2015)

    as Inspecteur Moretti

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • All Three of Us(2015)

    as Mother of Fereshteh

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Our Futures(2015)

    as La mère de Yann

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Entre amis(2015)

    as Astrid

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Discount (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Sofia Benhaoui

  • 24 Days(2014)

    as Ruth Halimi

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Darling Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Clémence Garnier

  • Le Système Ribadier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Le grand méchant loup(2013)

    as Victoire

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Pieces of Me(2012)

    as Christine

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • True Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Stéphanie

  • On the Other Side of the Tracks(2012)

    as Morland

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Minister(2011)

    as Pauline, communications director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Titeuf: The Movie(2011)

    as Maman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • No and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Screenplay · as Lou's mother

  • Notre Dame des Barjots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Véra Cabral

  • The Ordinary People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Christine Barbieri

  • Someone I Loved (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos(2008)

    as Narrator (French version) (voice)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The First Day of the Rest of Your Life(2008)

    as Marie-Jeanne Duval

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Crossfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Commissaire Vasseur

  • Vérités assassines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Véra Cabral

  • L'homme de sa vie(2006)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • La vie privée des animaux (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as (voice)

  • The Perfume of the Lady in Black(2005)

    as Edith Rance

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • L'Hiver sous la table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Narco(2004)

    as Paméla

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Almost Peaceful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Léa

  • À l'abri des regards indiscrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as La joueuse

  • Bécassine, le trésor viking (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Loulotte (voice)

  • Beautiful Memories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Screenplay · as Marie Bjorg

  • L'inconnue du Val-Perdu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Martine

  • Du bleu jusqu'en Amérique(1999)

    as Anna

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • My Little Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Nathalie

  • Les Duettistes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lisa Le Guirec

  • Le double de ma moitié(1999)

    as Cécile / Suzy

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Ça reste entre nous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Marie

  • Proper Attire Required (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Catherine Sperry

  • Kitchen with Apartment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Martine

  • Just Before the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Mathilde

  • The Crisis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Isa Barelle

  • 588 rue Paradis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Astrid Setian

  • Crimes et jardins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Viviane

  • Toujours seuls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Isabelle

  • Une époque formidable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Interviewer

  • Blanval (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Emma

  • Les secrets professionnels du Docteur Apfelgluck(1991)

    as Carole Ribéra

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Promotion canapé (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Carole

  • Le Gorille (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Magda

  • C'est la vie(1990)

    as Bella

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • À corps et à cris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Marie Parenty

  • Moitié-moitié (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Sarah

  • Les cigognes n'en font qu'à leur tête(1989)

    as Hélène Parnet

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • La Travestie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Nicole Armingaud

  • Dandin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Angélique

  • Fucking Fernand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as une prostituée

  • Le Beauf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Marylin

  • Make It Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Odile

  • États d'âme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Hélène

  • Follow My Gaze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as L'handicapèe

  • Billy Ze Kick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Juliette Chapeau

  • Shadey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Hotel Maid

  • One Woman or Two(1985)

    as Constance Michoux

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik Yak(1984)

    as Beth

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Banzaï(1983)

    as Sophia, de l'agence de voyages, l'amie d'Isabelle

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Party 2(1982)

    as Catherine, Philippe's ex

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Elle voit des nains partout ! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Blanche-Neige

  • The Countess of Monte Cristo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · as Héloïse de Villefort

  • Y a pas de réseau 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Jeanine Tudor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 102 titles, 98 of them dated from 1982 to 2026; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

On the Other Side of the Tracks (2012)

$25M worldwide

Highest rated

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (2008)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

The New Look (2024)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19822026

Peak 2014 · their film career is on the way up. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1982Screen debut· Elle voit des nains partout !
  • 1982First top-billed film· Elle voit des nains partout !
  • 1993Breakout· Kitchen with Apartment
  • 1993Career best· Kitchen with Apartment

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting94 of 102: 91 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndDirecting10 of 102: 2 only directing, 8 with another roleWriting8 of 102: 0 only writing, 8 with another roleOther crew2 of 102: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

102 titles, 8 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1980s17 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s16 · 13 acting · 4 crew2010s27 · 25 acting · 4 crew2020s20 · 17 acting · 3 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 12% of 50 roles
8292021217

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Zabou Breitman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 38 titles are Broadly Agreed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed13
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

The Devil Inside (2020)

65th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (2008)

Midcredits 95th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

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.

Who does Zabou Breitman work with?

People who share at least 2 of Zabou Breitman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pascal Elbé shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers