Michel Brault directed, shot, and wrote the 1974 film Les Ordres, a production that seamlessly merged documentary and fiction styles to depict the trauma of the 1970 October Crisis. This work earned him the best director award at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival, cementing his role as a foundational figure in Canadian cinema history.
Early Career and Direct Cinema
Born in Montreal in 1928, Brault studied at Collège Stanislas before joining the National Film Board of Canada in 1956. He became a primary practitioner of direct cinema, characterized by the use of portable, hand-held cameras. His early work alongside directors like Gilles Groulx on The Snowshoers helped establish a distinct aesthetic for Quebec filmmaking. In the early 1960s, his time in France saw him collaborate with Jean Rouch and Raoul Coutard on the influential film Chronique d’un été.
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Brault departed from the National Film Board in 1965 after his first feature, Entre la mer et l'eau douce, was rejected by the director of French production. This move initiated a prolific freelance career spanning documentaries, television dramas, and feature films. His technical range was significant, moving from the gritty realism of his early documentaries to the stylistic lyricism found in his cinematography for works like Kamouraska and Mon oncle Antoine.
Awards and Legacy
Throughout his career, Brault received numerous honors, including the Prix Albert-Tessier in 1986 and the Molson Prize in 1980. He was named an Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2003 and received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award. He won several Genie Awards for his cinematography and direction, maintaining a reputation for technical proficiency until the end of his life. He died from a heart attack in 2013 while traveling to receive a lifetime achievement award.
Fast facts
- Born: 1928, Montreal
- Died: 2013, Toronto
- Primary Occupation: Cinematographer and Film Director
- Education: Collège Stanislas
- Cannes Best Director Award: 1975
- Officer of the National Order of Quebec: 2003
- Known for: Pioneering hand-held camera techniques
Questions readers ask
What is Michel Brault best known for?
He is recognized for his role as a pioneer of the hand-held camera aesthetic and as a leading figure in the direct cinema and cinéma-vérité movements.
Did Michel Brault win a Cannes Film Festival award?
Yes, he shared the Best Director Award at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival for his film Les Ordres.
Achievements
- Officer of the National Order of Quebec — 2003
- Worked as film director, cinematographer and film producer
