One of the most renowned and important filmmakers of all time, Jean Renoir leaves behind an artistic legacy that cuts across national borders and temporal bounds. The son of celebrated Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jean forged his own artistic path, becoming a towering figure in world cinema whose humane approach to storytelling and technical innovations continue to inspire filmmakers today.
Early Life and Artistic Development
Born in Paris on September 15, 1894, Renoir grew up surrounded by the artistic elite of France. His father’s friends included composers like Claude Debussy and writers such as Émile Zola, exposing young Jean to diverse artistic influences. After serving and being wounded in World War I, Renoir initially pursued a career in ceramics before finding his true calling in cinema, partly inspired by his wife Catherine Hessling’s acting ambitions.
His early silent films of the 1920s, including “La Fille de l’eau” (1924) and “Nana” (1926), revealed an emerging talent still finding his voice. However, by the late 1920s and early 1930s, Renoir began developing his distinctive visual style and thematic preoccupations.
Cinematic Style and Approach
Renoir’s approach to filmmaking was defined by several key characteristics that set him apart from his contemporaries:
Deep-Focus Cinematography and Long Takes
Unlike many directors who relied heavily on montage, Renoir pioneered the use of deep-focus photography and extended takes. This approach allowed multiple planes of action to unfold simultaneously within the frame, creating a more realistic representation of life’s complexity. His famous depth-of-field shots in “Rules of the Game” (1939) allowed viewers to observe character interactions in multiple spatial planes, much like watching real life unfold.
Fluid Camera Movement
Renoir’s camera rarely remained static. He employed elaborate tracking shots and pans that seemed to float through spaces, following characters with a gentle curiosity. This approach reflected his belief that life is fluid and interconnected, not fragmented.
Naturalistic Performances
Rejecting the exaggerated acting common in his era, Renoir coaxed naturalistic performances from his actors. He often worked with the same performers across multiple films, developing a repertory company of sorts that included Marcel Dalio, Julien Carette, and Gaston Modot.
Improvisational Approach
While meticulously planning his films, Renoir remained open to improvisation during shooting. He once remarked, “The script is just a pretext for what happens on the set,” emphasizing his belief in the organic development of scenes and characters.
Major Works and Themes
Renoir’s prolific career spanned five decades and three continents, but several works stand as his most significant contributions to cinema:
“La Grande Illusion” (1937)
Often cited as one of the greatest films ever made, this anti-war masterpiece explores class solidarity across national boundaries during World War I. Through the story of French officers in a German prisoner-of-war camp, Renoir delivers a powerful meditation on the artificial divisions of class, nationality, and religion. Orson Welles called it one of the two films he would take with him “on the ark.”
“The Rules of the Game” (1939)
Perhaps Renoir’s most perfect achievement, this satirical comedy-drama set among the French upper classes before World War II is a masterful ensemble piece exposing social hypocrisy. Initially reviled by audiences and banned as “demoralizing” by the French government, it’s now recognized as a definitive masterpiece of world cinema. Its intricate staging and moral complexity continue to influence filmmakers today.
“The River” (1951)
Shot in magnificent Technicolor in India, this meditation on life, death, and cultural differences marked Renoir’s first color film. Its sensitive portrayal of India and coming-of-age themes showcased Renoir’s humanist philosophy in a new cultural context.
“The Human Beast” (1938)
This dark adaptation of Émile Zola’s novel explores human desires and violence through the story of a train engineer drawn into a murderous affair. It demonstrates Renoir’s versatility and willingness to explore humanity’s darker impulses.
Thematic Preoccupations
Across his diverse filmography, several themes emerged consistently:
Class Analysis
Renoir continually examined class structures and their impact on human relationships. Neither condemning nor glorifying any particular class, he instead observed how social hierarchies shape human behavior.
The Artifice of Social Conventions
Throughout his work, particularly in “The Rules of the Game,” Renoir exposed the elaborate social rituals that both connect and divide people, viewing them with a mixture of affection and critical distance.
War and Nationalism
Having experienced combat firsthand, Renoir maintained a deeply skeptical view of nationalism and militarism. His anti-war stance permeates films like “La Grande Illusion” and “The River.”
Human Interconnectedness
Perhaps his most enduring theme is the fundamental interconnectedness of humanity. Despite differences in class, nationality, or belief, Renoir’s characters reveal their common humanity, with his famous quote from “The Rules of the Game” summarizing his worldview: “The awful thing about life is this: everyone has their reasons.”
Career Phases and Evolution
Renoir’s career can be divided into three major periods, each with distinctive characteristics:
French Period (1924-1939)
This most celebrated phase of his career produced his greatest masterpieces. Beginning with silent films and transitioning to sound, Renoir developed his distinctive style while engaging with the social and political realities of 1930s France. His alignment with the leftist Popular Front movement influenced works like “The Crime of Monsieur Lange” (1936), though Renoir always prioritized humanism over didactic politics.
Hollywood Period (1941-1947)
Fleeing Nazi-occupied France, Renoir continued his career in America with mixed success. Though never fully embracing Hollywood conventions, he created interesting works including “The Southerner” (1945), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
International/Late Period (1950-1969)
Renoir’s final creative phase included productions in India (“The River”), Italy (“The Golden Coach”), and a return to France. These later works often explored theatrical themes and the nature of performance, reflecting a more contemplative artistic approach.
Legacy and Influence
Renoir’s impact on cinema has been profound and far-reaching:
Critical Recognition
Consistently ranked among the greatest directors in film history, Renoir’s work has been championed by critics and filmmakers alike. François Truffaut called him “the greatest filmmaker in the world,” while Orson Welles cited him as one of his primary influences.
Influence on the French New Wave
Directors like Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, and Jacques Rivette considered Renoir a spiritual father to their movement. His naturalistic approach, fluid camera work, and emphasis on character over plot directly shaped their revolutionary filmmaking approaches.
Impact on World Cinema
From Italian Neorealism to contemporary humane storytellers like Hirokazu Kore-eda, Renoir’s influence extends globally. His documentary-like observation combined with poetic sensibility created a template for naturalistic cinema that remains relevant.
Philosophical Impact
Beyond technique, Renoir’s most lasting contribution may be his deeply humanistic worldview. His refusal to judge his characters, instead seeking to understand them, established an ethical approach to filmmaking that values empathy over moralizing.
Renoir the Man
Remembered by colleagues as warm, generous, and insightful, Renoir’s personality infused his work. Actor Jean Gabin noted that Renoir “never raised his voice” on set, preferring collaboration to dictatorial direction. His autobiographical writings, including “My Life and My Films” (1974), reveal a thoughtful artist who maintained his humane perspective throughout his life.
Conclusion
Jean Renoir’s cinema represents one of the most significant artistic achievements of the 20th century. Balancing technical innovation with profound human insight, his films continue to resonate because they speak to enduring truths about human nature. In an art form often driven by technological advances and changing fashions, Renoir’s work remains eternally contemporary in its understanding of human complexity, foibles, and dignity.
As he himself wrote late in life: “The more I learn about my craft, the more I realize that true knowledge in this, as in everything else, consists in being aware of how little one knows.” This humility before the mysteries of human experience defines both Renoir the man and the enduring power of his cinema.