Bertrand Blier

Screen Icons: Gerard Depardieu Bertrand Blier

Four films starring the acclaimed French actor, Gerard Depardieu. In 'Buffet Froid' (1979), unemployed loner Alphonse Tram (Depardieu) becomes the prime suspect in a serial killing investigation after his knife is found sticking out of a body on the Metro. As the net closes around him and the bodycount escalates, he goes on the run with a couple of unlikely allies: the ageing police inspector who lives upstairs, and a depressive who has murdered his wife.

In 'Mon Pere ce Heros' (1991), Depardieu stars as Andre, an estranged father who takes his teenage daughter Veronique (Marie Gillain) away on holiday. While they are away, Veronique begins to act strangely and, by spying on her, Andre finds that she is experiencing her first love and has created a convoluted story in which she has cast Andre as her much older lover. 'Tout les Matins du Monde' (1991) is based on the lives of two 17th century composers, Sainte Colombe and Marin Marais.

The old Marais (Depardieu) looks back on his apprenticeship with Sainte Colombe (Jean-Pierre Marielle). Conflict arises between them when Marais (Guillaume Depardieu) leaves for the Grand Siecle Royal Court. Finally, in 'Le Colonel Chabert' (1994), when Colonel Chabert (Depardieu) returns from the Napoleonic wars after being presumed dead for over ten years, he finds a society that no longer stands for the values that he holds dear.

After a money-spinning plan set up by a lawyer and the Colonel's former wife, the Colonel loses all faith in the society and turns to a simple life.