Claude Gagnon
Claude Gagnon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 December 1949 Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter, editor, actor |
| Spouse | Yuri Yoshimura-Gagnon |
Claude Gagnon (born 18 December 1949) is a Canadian filmmaker and actor, who frequently works in both Canada and Japan.[1][2]
Early life
A Quebec native, Gagnon first came to Japan in 1970 as photojournalist covering Expo '70 in Osaka. He met his wife, ballerina-turned-filmmaker Yuri Yoshimura, whom he married in 1973.
"My original plan was to spend six months in Japan, and then to go to Indonesia before heading to Europe. I thought I’d do my little trip like everyone else did in those days. But after six months I still didn’t understand a thing. There were very few foreigners living in Japan in those days, and I remember that if you saw a Westerner in Kyoto, you’d crossed the road to say hi and trade phone numbers. It was the era of “Peace and Love”‒‒euphoric and stimulating."[2]
Career
Gagnon's introduction to the film industry was as an actor, notably playing a villain in the Sonny Chiba martial arts film Return of the Street Fighter (1974).
He made his directorial debut with 1979's Keiko, a neorealist-inspired lesbian-themed drama. The film was a popular success and earned Gagnon the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award,[3] the first foreign-born filmmaker to do so.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Keiko | |
| 1982 | Larose, Pierrot and Luce | |
| 1985 | Pale Face | |
| 1988 | Kenny | |
| 1991 | The Pianist | |
| 1995 | Pour l'amour de Thomas | |
| 2004 | Revival Blues | |
| 2005 | Kamataki | |
| 2012 | Karakara | [4] |
| 2020 | Old Buddies | [5] |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Return of the Street Fighter | Don Costello | |
| 1976 | Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist | Joe Spencer | |
| 1977 | Rashamen | Smith |
Awards and nominations
| Institution | Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | 1988 | UNICEF Award | Kenny | Won |
| CIFEJ Award | Won | |||
| 2006 | Crystal Award | Kamataki | Won | |
| César Awards | 1986 | Best French-Language Film | Pale Face | Nominated |
| Directors Guild of Japan | 1979 | New Directors Award | Keiko[3] | Won |
| Genie Awards | 2000 | Best Motion Picture | Winter Stories[6] | Nominated |
| Hochi Film Awards | 1979 | Special Award | Keiko | Won |
| Mar del Plata International Film Festival | 2006 | Best Film (International Competition) | Kamataki | Nominated |
| Montreal World Film Festival | 1985 | Best Canadian Film | Pale Face[7] | Won |
| 1987 | Grand Prix des Amériques | Kenny | Won | |
| 2005 | Grand Prix des Amériques | Kamataki | Nominated | |
| Prize of the Ecumenical Jury | Won | |||
| Best Director | Won | |||
| People's Choice Award | Won | |||
| FIPRESCI Prize | Won | |||
| Most Popular Canadian Feature Film | Won | |||
| 2012 | Grand Prix des Amériques | Karakara | Nominated | |
| Most Popular Canadian Feature Film | Won | |||
| Openness to the World Award | Won | |||
| Paris Film Festival | 1988 | Special Jury Prize | Kenny | Won |
| Prix Iris | 2013 | Best Screenplay | Karakara[8] | Nominated |
| 2022 | Public Prize | Old Buddies | Nominated | |
| Tokyo International Film Festival | 1991 | Grand Prix | The Pianist | Nominated |
References
- ^ Brendan Kelly, "Claude Gagnon keeps his friends close; The Quebec director is as steadfast in his support of Serge Losique's festival as he is in his support of the Habs". Montreal Gazette, 27 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Film director, Claude Gagnon | Japan Up Close". Japan Up Close. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ a b "New Directors Award". Directors Guild of Japan. Archived from the original on 21 September 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ Ronnie Scheib, "Karakara". Variety, 3 September 2012.
- ^ Maxime Demers, "«Les vieux chums» : une touchante sincérité". Le Journal de Montréal, 20 May 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Brendan (13 December 1999). "Genies bottle 'Sunshine,' 'Journey' for kudo noms". Variety. Vol. 377, no. 5. p. 8.
- ^ Kelly, Brendan (13 December 1999). "Genies bottle 'Sunshine,' 'Journey' for kudo noms". Variety. Vol. 377, no. 5. p. 8.
- ^ "Spotlight shines on Quebec cinema at the Jutra awards". CBC News.