For the 26^th edition FIFA has decided to dedicate the title of « special favorite» to Elie Chouraqui, an established film director and actor who is celebrating his 40^th career anniversary. The International Love Film Festival of Mons invites you to discover his several other films like Harrisson’s Flowers, The one I love and The groundhogs. Present in Mons from February 19 to 21, Elie Chouraqui will take this opportunity to give a cinema lecture.

Biography

Comedies, thrillers, road movies and dramas: Elie Chouraqui puts off the critic with his eclecticism, energy and diversity of subjects. Dealing with equality, human rights, freedom, the importance of the family, his films are inspired from his personal story and his Jewish origins.

Elie Chouraqui was born in Paris on July 3, 1950. He follows classical studies letters and law, but quickly after he left the faculty for joining the army. It’s during this period that he became captain of the French volley-ball team and participates at the European Cup and the World Cup. After this athletic career, he was hired as editor of the daily France Soir where he wrote sports articles. It is during this period that he discovered cinema. He started as assistant director of Claude Lelouch.

He wrote several scripts, and realized a short film Une perte de temps (A waste of time). For Anouk Aimée he wrote and directed his first feature film Mon premier amour (My first love) adapted from a novel by Jacques-Alain Léger. Unfortunately, no one wanted to produce his work, described as being too sad. Elie Chouraqui then created his own production company named 7 films and produced the movie. While financially ruining Chouraqui, the film was a big success and launched his career. After, he wrote an autobiographical feature film What makes David run?, also produced by himself as most of his films.

In 1984, he directed Love songs. Again, the film was a success. In 1987, the producer Amon Milchan proposed him to direct Man on Fire, his first feature film in English, followed by The Groundhogs, co-written with  Danièle Thomson. The film was well received by the public and TF1 made it a television saga.

In 1995, The Liars became a key film for the career of the film director. This film was highly criticized and forced Chouraqui to disappear for a period of 4 years. He made his comeback in 1999 with Harrisson’s Flowers. The film was hailed by the French and international press.

In 2000, Chouraqui challenged himself again: his first musical called The ten commandements. But he will not stop there, he will create a second musical Spartacus: The Gladiator, on the music of Maxime Le Forestier.

His latest work, The one I love, was released in French cinemas in April 2009.

Selective filmography :

As an actor: 

Coup de jeune, 1992 de Xavier Gelin 

Love songs, 1984 de Elie Chouraqui 

Toute une vie, 1974 De Claude Lelouch

As a film director:

The one I love, 2009

O Jerusalem, 2005

Harrisson's Flowers, 1999

The liars, 1995

The groundhogs, 1993

Miss Missouri, 1989

Man on Fire, 1986

Love songs, 1984

What makes David run?, 1981

Mon Premier Amour, 1978