This is bad news for the world of cinema. Alan Parker, iconic British director, died on July 31. It was in a statement released by his family that we learned of the death of the director of Midnight Express. For the occasion, let's retrace the brilliant career of this giant of cinema.
Alan Parker: the one who was born to do everything right
Parker was born in Islington in 1944. Initially working in advertising, he decided to start writing screenplays and directed several short films. A few years later, he directed his first film: Bugsy Malone ; the story of a young man engaged in a clandestine salon and who quarrels with the gang of Dan the Dandy.
This film was initially criticized, because the cast consisted only of children. But who would have thought of doing that? Especially since it is difficult to direct children as actors. This work will subsequently receive a large number of positive reviews while the target audience was limited. Moreover, this film will be rewarded with 5 awards including a Golden Globe.
Subsequently, in 1978, he directed what will perhaps be his most cult film: Midnight Express ; the story of an American student smuggler in Turkey who will endure 5 years in prison. Like its predecessor, the film was a real time bomb that will go so far as to be nominated 6 times for the Oscars.
Midnight Express
From Angel Heart to Kellogg's Care, Alan Parker is not afraid to change register, moving from thriller to comedy. He is a versatile artist who does not hesitate to touch everything.
A director who was not afraid of anything
Alan Parker is also known for his frank side and was not afraid to show angry images. It has also suffered a wave of controversy. With his film Midness Express, he was strongly criticized for denigrating the behavior of the Turks. This film was banned in Turkey until 1993.
He does not hesitate to talk about sensitive subjects such as segregation in the United States in Mississippi Burning (which has also recently been released in some French cinemas) or the death penalty in The Life of David Gale. Alan Parker has also confronted his films about psychiatry, notably in The Wall where the main character suffers from schizophrenia.
Mississippi Burning
Prices galore
In half a century, the master of the 7th art has won nearly 19 awards including 2 Oscars, 6 Golden Globes and four Bafta Awards. It received the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival for Birdy in 1985 and the BAFTA for Best Film in 1991. One of his biggest hits was Fame. The film garnered six Oscar nominations for screenplay, score, editing, sound and two for song.
How music accompanied his career
The maestro of cinema is also known for having put music at the center of his cinematographic works. As in Pink Floyd: The Wall, accompanied by Peter Gabriel in Birdy. Madonna will also be mentioned in Evita. Madonna, he said, wasn't the easiest person to work with, but he found a way to get the best out of her.
The poster of the film Evita
Music is one of his main inspirations, notably in Fame, a musical that traces the lives of students at the High School of Performing Arts in New York during a school year. A show with mesmerizing music whose soundtrack (Flashdance) is performed by Irene Cara.
Not to mention Les Commitements, which evokes the lives of young Irish from the working classes who wish to form a soul band. A true ode to music and those who produce it. Breathtaking performances, mostly improvised: "The cast improvised like crazy, breaking the record for most swear words used in a film," says Alan Parker in an interview with The Guardian
The original song of the movie Fame
The eternal dissatisfied
When you know how to do everything well, it is certainly that you are never satisfied with your work. Surprising coming from this renowned director, who despite the quality of his works always found something to complain about. For example, for the film The Wall: Pinkfloyd , a masterpiece that quickly became a classic, he denigrates it by saying that this feature film:
"Attack of the senses, which didn't give me, anyway, as a spectator, the chance to get involved. »
With Alan Parker, it is a monument of achievement that leaves. A monument that leaves us a rich filmography, but which leaves, closes era of British cinema.
