Gérard Depardieu, one of France's biggest exports (literally), has become a household name over his 40-year career thanks to his charismatic onscreen presence, a disarming contrast between his imposing physique and raw sensitivity, and his unforgettable performances in movies such as Jean de Florette, Cyrano de Bergerac, and . With over 200 movies under his belt, he has played with gusto thugs, war veterans, good cops, bad cops, swordsmen, politicians, artists, in every period of history imaginable.
But cinema is not his only passion and, as his size belies, Depardieu also has a certain penchant for gastronomy. In addition to owning restaurants and vineyards, Depardieu now stars in his own food and travel show (now screening on SBS), , which sees him travel all around Europe to devour, guzzle, and bury his nose in beautiful local produce.
Can't get enough of Depardieu? You can now watch Gégé to your heart's content with this 12-course movie marathon available at SBS On Demand. Enjoy.
All the Mornings of the World
M
France, 1991
Genre: Drama, Romance, History
Language: French
Director: Alain Corneau
Starring: Jean-Pierre Marielle, Gerard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Guillaume Depardieu
What's it about?
Enjoy a double dose of Depardieu in this acclaimed biography of Marin Marais, a famous violist at Louis XIV's court. Gerard and his late son Guillaume both play Marais through the ages, as he is mentored by an uncompromising taskmaster, Monsieur de Sainte Colombe. Accompanied by sublime baroque music, the film follows the intense and complicated master-student dynamic - and speaking of intensity, there's plenty of that too, in Marais's relationship with Colombe's daughter...
Enjoy a double dose of Depardieu in this acclaimed biography of Marin Marais, a famous violist at Louis XIV's court. Gerard and his late son Guillaume both play Marais through the ages, as he is mentored by an uncompromising taskmaster, Monsieur de Sainte Colombe. Accompanied by sublime baroque music, the film follows the intense and complicated master-student dynamic - and speaking of intensity, there's plenty of that too, in Marais's relationship with Colombe's daughter...
Source: SBS Movies
Colonel Chabert
M
France, 1994
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Yves Angelo
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Fanny Ardant, Fabrice Luchini
What's it about?
Gérard Depardieu gives a brilliant performance in this adaptation of Honoré de Balzac's classic critique of French society. A decade after being presumed killed in action in the Napoleonic Wars, Colonel Chabert (Depardieu) returns to Paris, to learn that his wealth has been squandered by his "widow" and her new husband. The colonel sets out to reclaim his money and restore his legacy.
Nathalie
MA15+
France, 2003
Genre: Drama
Language: French
Director: Anne Fontaine
Starring: Fanny Ardant, Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Depardieu
What's it about?
Nine years after Colonel Chabert, Gérard Depardieu and Fanny Ardant reunite in this smart and seductive movie by Anne Fontaine (Gemma Bovery) as a seemingly happy bourgeois couple. But when Catherine discovers that Bernard has cheated on her, she tries to find out why by hiring a prostitute, Nathalie (Emmanuelle Béart, Manon des Sources) to seduce him, and report back to her about their trysts. Over the course of their meetings, an ambiguous relationship forms between the two women.
The Singer
PG
France, 2006
Genre: Romance
Language: French
Director: Xavier Giannoli
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Cecile de France, Mathieu Amalric
What's it about?
In this gentle romance by Xavier Giannoli (), Depardieu gives a moving performance as Alain Moreau, a washed up, overweight singer playing the provincial dance hall circuit. One night, he meets Marion (Cécile De France), a young, attractive but troubled woman, trying to rebuild her life with her son after a failed marriage. Marion regrets their fling, but Alain has fallen for her charms and tries to win back her affection.
Source: SBS Movies
Bellamy
M
France, 2010
Genre: Crime
Language: French
Director: Claude Chabrol
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Jacques Gamblin, Marie Bunel
What's it about?
Depardieu plays eminent detective Paul Bellamy, who even on holidays in the South of France with his wife Françoise, is unable to switch off his crime-solving instinct. Bellamy's curiosity is piqued by the murky case of a mysterious stranger who demands his protection. His situation is complicated further when his troublesome brother turns up unannounced. A smart and witty thriller by the French master of mystery Claude Chabrol (A Girl Cut in Two).
Cold Cuts
M
France, 1979
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Language: French
Director: Bertrand Blier
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Bernard Blier, Jean Carmet, Michel Serrault
What's it about?
Depardieu reunites with Bertrand Blier (, How Much Do You Love Me?)five years after his breakthrough role in Les Valseuses, to portray an unemployed young man who is unwittingly involved in several murders, despite having no memory of committing the crimes. An absurd black comedy by the iconoclast director, who turns the crime genre on its head to comment on the alienating effects of contemporary urban life.
Source: SBS Movies
Astérix and Obélix Vs Caesar
PG
France, 1999
Genre: Adventure
Language: French
Director: Claude Zidi
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Christian Clavier, Roberto Benigni
What's it about?
Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar is the first of four live-action movie adaptations of the cult Franco-Belgian comic book that was first published in 1959 and has since garnered millions of fans around the world. In 50 B.C., the whole Gaul country is under Roman occupation... except for one small village, which keeps resisting the invaders. But when Roman Emperor Julius Caesar kidnaps the village druid, the shrewd Asterix (Christian Clavier), and his large and naive friend Obelix (Depardieu), go on a mission to rescue him.
Astérix and Obélix: Mission Cleopatra
PG
France, Germany, 2002
Genre: Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
Language: French
Director: Alain Chabat
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Christian Clavier, Monica Bellucci
What's it about?
This sequel proved a major hit when it came out in 2002, selling more than 14 million tickets, thanks to a star-studded cast and its non-stop puns and pop culture references. When Cleopatra (Monica Bellucci), Queen of Egypt, orders the construction of a palace in only three months, architect Numerobis decides to call on the help of his friends Asterix and Obelix, druid Getafix, the only ones who can save him from the crocodile pit.
Source: SBS Movies
Astérix and Obélix: God Save Britannia
PG
France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, 2012
Genre: Family, Adventure, Comedy
Language: French
Director: Laurent Tirard
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Edouard Baer, Fabrice Luchini
What's it about?
Depardieu returns as Obelix alongside the "crème de la crème" of French actors (Fabrice Luchini, Catherine Deneuve, Dany Boon, Guillaume Gallienne...) in this adventure which sees our favourite Gallic duo travel to Britain, under attack by Julius Caesar. A small British village still holds out, but its inhabitants need a little help from their Gallic friends (and their magic potion) to resist the enemy.
Source: SBS Movies
Public Enemy Number 1 (Part 1)
MA15+
France, 2009
Genre: Biography, Crime, Thriller
Language: French
Director: Jean-Francois Richet
Starring: Vincent Cassel, Cecile de France, Gérard Depardieu
What's it about?
The first chapter of this two-part biopic recounts the life of notorious French criminal Jacques Mesrine (Vincent Cassel, in one of his best performances) at the beginning of his career of bank heists, prison breaks and kidnapping through the '60s and '70s. Depardieu is truly chilling as a ruthless veteran gangster who takes Mesrine under his wing on his return from the war in Algeria, and pulls him further into a life of crime.
Source: SBS Movies
Diamond 13
MA15+
France, 2009
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Language: French
Director: Gilles Béhat
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Olivier Marchal, Asia Argento
What's it about?
Gérard Depardieu stars as Mat, a burnt-out, insomniac cop in the criminal division of the Paris police force. His lifelong friend, Franck (played by real cop-turned writer/actor/director Olivier Marchal), works in the drug squad, doing some drug trafficking of his own on the side. When Franck gets in too deep, Mat must take matters into his own hands. A solid and entertaining noir carried by convincing performances by Depardieu, Marchal and Asia Argento.
A Hero's Choice
M
Romania, Germany, Belgium, 2014
Genre: Comedy, Drama, War
Language: English
Director: Bogdan Dreyer
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Harvey Keitel, Laura Morante
What's it about?
This comedy about the dark side of human nature is set in a small Eastern European village during WWII. When a child finds the body of a German soldier, the local authorities need to find the culprit quickly, or else they will all be shot by the Nazis. The town leaders, led by Father Johanis (Harvey Keitel), appeal to the village eccentric (played effortlessly by Depardieu), and promise a hero's funeral if he claims responsibility for the murder. It's a race against time, worth watching for Keitel and Depardieu, both in fine form.
Source: SBS Movies
