Pierre Trabaud Movies

A French music lover befriends a once-great American jazz artist and attempts to save him from self-destruction in this moody drama. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon portrays Dale Turner, a fictional musician inspired by a number of famed jazz figures, including Bud Powell and Lester Young. Largely forgotten in his home country, Turner has moved to Paris in search of a more appreciative audience. He finds it in the form of Francis Borler (Francois Cluzet), a bebop aficionado who befriends the expatriate player. Borler soon becomes familiar with Turner's darker side, including his struggles with alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression. Fearing for the musician's life, the fan becomes his caretaker, an arrangement that leads to a brief improvement in Turner's health and fortunes but places great emotional strain upon them both. Director Bertrand Tavernier pays great attention to the visual and aural details of the jazz world, with outstanding musical supervision provided by Herbie Hancock. 'Round Midnight's greatest asset, however, is Gordon's Academy Award-nominated performance, informed by his own life experiences. His naturally fascinating presence combines with the film's obvious love of the music and its milieu to provide what many have hailed as one of the more authentic and affectionate presentations of the jazz world on the silver screen. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

In this gentle anti-war comedy, a class of French schoolboys divides into two factions who begin to battle each other, with the victors claiming the buttons off the clothes of the vanquished. One day, some of the boys pull a strategic coup by running into battle naked, therefore leaving their enemies nothing to steal. However, after this stunning victory, one of their number turns traitor to the other side, helping them plot a secret attack that leaves the recent champions in defeat. The informer is eventually found out and punished for his crimes, so he takes the matter to a higher authority and tells his parents he's been beaten up by bullies. Soon Mom and Dad are making trouble for their son's schoolmates, with the culprits facing a stay in juvenile hall. La Guerre des Boutons was written and directed by Yves Robert, who had a distinguished career both in front of and behind the camera in the French cinema. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The hero of Le Desert de Pigalle is Janin (Pierre Trabaud), a two-fisted priest assigned to the lawless district of Pigalle. Janin takes it upon himself to reform the prostitutes in the area, which makes him extremely unpopular with the local "mecs" and white slavers. His toughest reclamation project is jaded whore Josy (Annie Girardot), but once he's won her over, she helps him to realize his goal with the other ladies of the evening. As is usually the case in melodramas of this nature, Josy pays for her change of heart with her life. Le Desert de Pigalle was directed by Leo Joannon, light-years removed from the frivolities of Laurel & Hardy's Atoll K. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Young Mario (Giancarlo Damiani) loses his mother, Ada (Giulia Rubini), when she's hit by a truck, and so his father, Aldo (Gastone Renzelli), a mechanic, must leave his job in Kenya and return to Italy. The father and son have nothing in common, and Mario shies away from him. Aldo must return to Africa and so puts his son in an orphanage, but the boy escapes on the eve of his father's departure and takes refuge with his friend Richetto (Pierre Trabaud). Aldo finds Mario, and Richetto explains that he had been only a helping friend to Ada -- and that, as a woman alone in the city with a child, she needed help. He urges Aldo to be there for the son who needs him, and Aldo decides not to go back to Kenya but to stay and raise Mario. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide