Claude Miller

Claude Miller (February 20, 1942 – April 4, 2012) was a prominent French filmmaker known for his work as a director, producer, and screenwriter. Born into a Jewish family, he began his film education at the prestigious IDHEC film school in Paris between 1962 and 1963. His initial foray into cinema came during his military service with the Service Cinéma de l'Armée, where he gained hands-on experience.

From 1965 to 1974, Miller collaborated as an assistant and supervisor for some of France's cinematic greats, including Robert Bresson and Jean-Luc Godard. His most significant mentor was François Truffaut, whose influence shaped Miller's early projects, including his debut feature, *La meilleure façon de marcher* (The Best Way to Walk, 1976). This coming-of-age story earned him César nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay.

Miller's later works often echoed Truffaut's style, with many sharing production teams. His film *Dites-lui que je l'aime* garnered another César nomination for Best Director, while *Garde à vue* (1981) won him a César Award for Best Screenplay. Following Truffaut's passing, Miller completed *La Petite Voleuse* (The Little Thief, 1988), which achieved international acclaim.

After a hiatus, he returned with *The Accompanist* (1992) and *La Classe de Neige* (1998), the latter winning the Jury Prize at Cannes. His later films included *Betty Fisher et autres histoires* (2001) and *A Secret* (2007). At the time of his death, he was working on an adaptation of François Mauriac's *Thérèse Desqueyroux*, which was selected to close the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.