---
name: "Louis Malle"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/louis-malle"
fi1m_id: "louis-malle"
imdb_id: "nm0001501"
tmdb_id: 15389
wikidata_id: "Q55392"
roles: ["Director","Writer","Producer"]
born: "30 October 1932"
died: "23 November 1995"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "director"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-04T22:56:42.173868+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Louis Malle

## Identity

Louis Malle

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/louis-malle
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** louis-malle
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001501
- **TMDB ID:** 15389
- **Wikidata ID:** Q55392
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Malle, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55392, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001501/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15389

Director and writer. Born 30 October 1932 in Thumeries, Nord, France. Died 23 November 1995.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 30 October 1932, Thumeries, Nord, France
- **Died:** 23 November 1995
- **Active:** 1971–1992
- **Also known as:** 루이 말, Louis Marie Malle, 루이 말레, 루이스 말레
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 directing, 1 other
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 4 BAFTAs (4 won · 5 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as director, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 61 (1), 1980s 88 (2), 1990s 57 (1), 2020s 74 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 72 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Romance 2, Comedy 1, Crime 1, War 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $48m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Malle, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55392, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001501/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/15389

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Au Revoir les Enfants*](https://film.one/film/au-revoir-les-enfants.md) (90)
- **Disney+:** [*Becoming Cousteau*](https://film.one/film/becoming-cousteau.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Louis Malle

> Louis Malle is worth following for his patience with people and his willingness to change forms. *Au Revoir les Enfants* shows how powerfully that patience can work, though its remembered schooldays occasionally feel too carefully arranged.

In the boarding school of *Au Revoir les Enfants* (1987), two boys have to learn how to be friends while adults understand dangers they cannot yet grasp. Malle keeps their wish to be accepted in view, rather than making every childish hesitation an illustration of life under occupation. We were moved by their efforts at friendship, because Malle takes the need to belong seriously without giving the children an adult understanding of the danger. We recommend the film without hesitation; its patience with the children is also a strong reason to seek out Malle.

Malle began in documentaries, co-directing *The Silent World* (1956) with Jacques Cousteau, then made his first narrative feature with the thriller *Elevator to the Gallows* (1958) and its Miles Davis score. Adolescence became a subject in the semi-autobiographical *Murmur of the Heart* (1971), while *Lacombe, Lucien* (1974) examined collaboration during the occupation. Growing up and life under occupation would come together in *Au Revoir les Enfants*.

After moving to the United States in 1975, he directed *Atlantic City* (1980), about crime in a changing city. *My Dinner with Andre* (1981) consists almost entirely of conversation. Some critics have treated his changes of form as evidence that he lacked a defining style. We see no reason to demand that a thriller and an extended conversation should look alike.

Returning to France for *Au Revoir les Enfants*, Malle wrote and directed from memories of his own childhood. Editor Emmanuelle Castro gives the school’s everyday routines enough time for the friendship to feel earned, without making each hesitation a separate dramatic event. That rhythm matters: spending time among the pupils never feels like waiting for the important part to begin. Malle also gets young performances that do not ask us to congratulate the children on their sensitivity.

The reservation is that his screenplay sometimes makes the school feel too neatly remembered. We wanted more distraction, and more permission for the boys to be uninteresting; childhood does not usually arrange itself so helpfully. That tidiness is a small but real limitation in a film otherwise so attentive to what children do not understand. Start with *Au Revoir les Enfants*, and leave the distractions for another evening.

## Biography

Louis Malle was a French film director, screenwriter and producer who worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. He was born on 30 October 1932 in Thumeries, Nord, France, and died on 23 November 1995 in Beverly Hills, California.

He studied at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques and assisted Robert Bresson before directing his first feature, *Elevator to the Gallows* (1958). Malle directed, wrote and produced *Au Revoir les Enfants* (1987), an autobiographical film set during the German occupation of France. Other notable works include *The Fire Within* (1963), *Murmur of the Heart* (1971), *Atlantic City* (1980) and *Damage* (1992). He was married to actress Candice Bergen from 1980 until his death.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Directed (4) — the average rests on these

- *Damage* (1992), Fi1m 57, Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/damage.md)
- *Au Revoir les Enfants* (1987), Fi1m 90, Director, Producer, Screenplay — [page](https://film.one/film/au-revoir-les-enfants.md)
- *Atlantic City* (1980), Fi1m 86, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/atlantic-city.md)
- *Murmur of the Heart* (1971), Fi1m 61, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/murmur-of-the-heart.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Becoming Cousteau* (2021), Fi1m 74, as Self (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/becoming-cousteau.md)

## Complete filmography (46)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *La Vie en Gris: The Anglophone Louis Malle in Seven Pictures* (2022), Actor
- *A Master Builder* (2014), In Memory Of
- *The Bardot mystery* (2012), Actor
- *Ekeb of Dekye* (2010), Original Story
- *The Passions of Louis Malle* (2003), Actor
- *The Ogre* (1996), In Memory Of
- *Vanya on 42nd Street* (1994), Director
- *Damage* (1992), Director, Producer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/damage.md)
- *La Vie de Bohème* (1992), as Gentleman
- *May Fools* (1990), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *Au Revoir les Enfants* (1987), Director, Screenplay, Producer — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/au-revoir-les-enfants.md)
- *… And the Pursuit of Happiness* (1986), as Narrator (voice) · Director, Producer, Director of Photography
- *God's Country* (1985), as Narrator (voice) · Director, Director of Photography
- *Alamo Bay* (1985), Director, Producer
- *My Dinner with Louis* (1984), as Interviewee
- *Crackers* (1984), Director
- *Before the Nickelodeon: The Cinema of Edwin S. Porter* (1982), as Reader - Melies Catalogue (voice)
- *My Dinner with Andre* (1981), Director
- *Atlantic City* (1980), Director — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/atlantic-city.md)
- *Pretty Baby* (1978), Director, Story, Producer
- *Close up: Dominique Sanda ou le rêve éveillé* (1977), Director
- *Black Moon* (1975), Director, Writer
- *Place de la République* (1974), Director
- *A Human Condition* (1974), Director
- *Lacombe, Lucien* (1974), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Français, si vous saviez* (1973), Delegated Producer
- *Murmur of the Heart* (1971), Director, Writer — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/murmur-of-the-heart.md)
- *A Very Curious Girl* (1969), as Jésus
- *Phantom India* (1969), series, Director, Writer
- *Calcutta* (1969), as Narrator (voice) · Director, Writer
- *Spirits of the Dead* (1968), Director, Adaptation, Screenplay
- *The Thief of Paris* (1967), as Extra (uncredited) · Director, Screenplay
- *Young Törless* (1966), Producer
- *Viva Maria!* (1965), Director, Screenplay
- *The Thief of Tibadabo* (1965), Producer
- *Best Regards from Bangkok* (1964), Director
- *The Fire Within* (1963), Director, Screenplay
- *Vive Le Tour* (1962), Director, Writer, Director of Photography
- *A Very Private Affair* (1962), as Le journaliste (uncredited) · Director, Writer
- *Zazie dans le Métro* (1960), Director, Screenplay, Producer
- *The Lovers* (1958), Director
- *Elevator to the Gallows* (1958), Director, Screenplay
- *The Silent World* (1956), Cinematography, Director, Director of Photography
- *Station 307* (1955), Director, Writer, Director of Photography
- *La Fontaine-de-Vaucluse* (1955), Director
- *Crazeologie* (1954), Director

## Gallery

- ![Louis Malle](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-88590694a55a.png) Louis Malle — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Identite-LouisMalle-1958-Sacem.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Interview pour la sortie en salle de Lacombe Lucien (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-6fe4b4e9ccf8.jpg) Interview pour la sortie en salle de Lacombe Lucien (2018) — Robert Belleret, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Avec_Malle_et_Modiano.jpg/1280px-Avec_Malle_et_Modiano.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Interview pour la sortie en salle de Lacombe Lucien (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-d866c1b41ce4.jpg) Interview pour la sortie en salle de Lacombe Lucien (2018) — Robert Belleret, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Avec_Malle_et_Modiano_%28cropped%29.jpg/500px-Avec_Malle_et_Modiano_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![On set of movie Atlantic City. Director Louis Malle on left. 35mm. (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-a94f3614e153.jpg) On set of movie Atlantic City. Director Louis Malle on left. 35mm. (2008) — David Swift, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Burt_Lancaster_filming_Atlantic_City.jpg/1280px-Burt_Lancaster_filming_Atlantic_City.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Louis Malle](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-807532df9514.jpg) Louis Malle — Image via TMDB
- ![Louis Malle](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-386dcc095ea0.jpg) Louis Malle — Image via TMDB
- ![Louis Malle](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-3f8f63d047e9.jpg) Louis Malle — Image via TMDB
- ![1962年5月18日、ルイ・マルは東京都築地の東急ホテルで記者会見した。](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-663eb45545d8.jpg) 1962年5月18日、ルイ・マルは東京都築地の東急ホテルで記者会見した。 — キネマ旬報社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Kinema-Junpo-1962-June-late-1.jpg/1280px-Kinema-Junpo-1962-June-late-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Louis Malle. Ascensore per il patibolo. Cartell publicitari (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-40875f92288c.jpg) Louis Malle. Ascensore per il patibolo. Cartell publicitari (2025) — Pilardenou999, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Louis_Malle._Ascensore_per_il_patibolo._Cartell_publicitari.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Louis Malle](https://film.one/media/person/119079/gallery-c0ceaf70adbe.jpg) Louis Malle — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 1988: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- 1982: Best Director (nominated), for *Atlantic City*
- 1973: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Murmur of the Heart*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 4 won, 5 nominated

- 1991: BAFTA Fellowship (won)
- 1991: Best Film Not in the English Language (nominated), for *May Fools*
- 1989: Best Direction (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- 1989: Best Film Not in the English Language (nominated), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- 1989: Best Original Screenplay (nominated), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- 1989: Best Film (nominated), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- 1982: Best Direction (won), for *Atlantic City*
- 1975: Best Film (won), for *Lacombe, Lucien*
- 1975: Best Direction (nominated), for *Lacombe, Lucien*

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1981: Best Director (nominated), for *Atlantic City*

### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won

- 1956: Palme d'Or (won), for *The Silent World*

### Venice Film Festival — 2 won

- 1987: Golden Lion (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- 1980: Golden Lion (won), for *Atlantic City*

### Other awards — 13 won, 5 nominated

- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director 1994: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Vanya on 42nd Street*
- David di Donatello for Best Foreign Director 1990: David di Donatello for Best Foreign Director (won), for *May Fools*
- César Award for Best Director 1988: César Award for Best Director (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- César Award for Best Film 1988: César Award for Best Film (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation 1988: César Award for Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- David di Donatello for Best Foreign Director 1988: David di Donatello for Best Foreign Director (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- David di Donatello for best foreign screenplay 1988: David di Donatello for best foreign screenplay (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- European Film Award for Best Director 1988: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- European Film Award for Best Film 1988: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 1988: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- Independent Spirit Awards 1988: Best Foreign Film (nominated), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film 1987: Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- Louis Delluc Prize 1987: Louis Delluc Prize (won), for *Au revoir les enfants*
- Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film 1981: Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film (nominated), for *Atlantic City*
- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director 1981: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director (won), for *Atlantic City*
- United Nations Awards 1975: United Nations Awards (won), for *Lacombe, Lucien*
- Louis Delluc Prize 1957: Louis Delluc Prize (won), for *Elevator to the Gallows*
- Prix du meilleur film français du Syndicat français de la critique de cinéma 1956: Prix du meilleur film français du Syndicat français de la critique de cinéma (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/louis-malle