Directed by Florence Strauss • Documentary • 2020 • 56 minutes

Episode 5: The Lovers

This episode focuses on producers driven by a true passion for film. Mag Bodard was a trailblazer—a woman producing films during an almost completely male-dominated era. In addition to the usual challenges of financing, she had to face the stereotype that women couldn’t handle money. But she was tenacious in sticking with projects nobody else thought would get made.

Jacques Perrin grew up in a show business family, and had been an actor before turning to production. He championed the political thriller Z at a timemwhen there was little appetite for serious political films, and perhaps put his acting skills to use faking contracts if it would help him secure bridge financing.

Meanwhile, Alexandre Mnouchkine and Georges Dancigers did whatever it took—even pitching in with costuming—if it would help get projects they loved made.

Films spotlighted in this episode:
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) / Mag Bodard / dir. Jacques Demy
Z (1969) / Jacques Perrin / dir. Costa-Gavras
That Man From Rio (1964) / Alexandre Mnouchkine and Georges Dancigers / dir. Philippe de Broca