Self-portrait of Carole BellaïcheCahiers du cinéma
Carole Bellaïche
Carole Bellaïche is a French photographer who works for the press as a portraitist. She started aged 14 by photographing her female friens, which explains the special bond she has had with actresses since she started.
Her long collaboration with Cahiers du cinéma began in 1992 when she covered the Venice Film Festival, and continues to this day. With Cahiers, Carole Bellaïche has photographed many filmmakers to accompany the magazine's interviews. In this story she revisits this long-term collaboration with a deeply personal narrative, as seen through the portraits that appeared on the covers of Cahiers.
Kiarostami, 1995
This was my first cover with Cahiers. I met Kiarostami at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, where I also discovered all his movies, in 1992. It was a great meeting. He willingly participated in the photoshoot; he enjoyed it.
Cahiers du cinéma n°493 - July/August 1995 (1995-08)Cahiers du cinéma
I had many other opportunities to take his photo, it became a habit ...
The three actresses, 1996
It was rare to photograph actresses for Cahiers, as they were more interested in moviemakers. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Laurence Côte and Emmanuelle Devos came to my house. I already knew Valeria and Laurence well, I'd already photographed them.
Cahiers du cinéma n°502 - May 1996 (1996-05)Cahiers du cinéma
I met Emmanuelle Devos for the first time.
Maurice Pialat, 2000
It was one of the most beautiful encounters of my career. With Cahiers, I discovered that photographing moviemakers was very different from photographing actors, because moviemakers listen to the photographer.
Cahiers du cinéma n°550 - October 2000 (2000-10)Cahiers du cinéma
We were at Pialat's house, we were doing the cover for the issue; Charles Tesson was there for a big interview. I took Pialat to one side in his office; we talked for hours about what we did and our passions.
He asked me questions; it was the most unforgettable portrait in my photography career. I still have these portraits of him.
Maggie Cheung, 2001
The photoshoot took place in a small tea room on Rue des rosiers in Paris. I don't remember if she chose the place or I did, but we were in a public place.
Cahiers du cinéma n°553 - January 2001 (2001-01)Cahiers du cinéma
We were still able to create intimacy.
Jeanne Balibar, 2001
Just before the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, Frank Nouchi — then director of Cahiers — called me and asked if I could think of an actress who could appear on the cover of the Cannes special. I had met Jeanne Balibar, and it was love at first sight.
Cahiers du cinéma n°557 - May 2001 (2001-05)Cahiers du cinéma
We decided to have her pose in a very glamorous way showing her legs, like Marlène. It was one evening at her house, with my old Cremer projector.
Éric Rohmer, 2004
When I met Éric Rohmer, I was around 23 years old, he came to my house to pick up one of the heroines of the movie Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle. That's how I introduced him to Jessica Forde.
Cahiers du cinéma n°588 - March 2004 (2004-03)Cahiers du cinéma
In return, he agreed to be part of my series "Dans les musées" (In the Museums). This portrait sort of remained his official portrait, and I was proud that Cahiers used it for the cover.
Michel Piccoli, 2005
When I finally got to meet Michel Piccoli for Cahiers, I hoped to meet him in a café to take a lively photo of him. He wanted us to go to the Cahiers office, and once there, we laughed so much…
Cahiers du cinéma n°607 - December 2005 (2005-12)Cahiers du cinéma
Piccoli and Pialat were unforgettable.
Asia Argento, 2005
Asia was also one of the significant meetings. We spent a whole day taking photos; it was in 1999, a wonderful moment.
Cahiers du cinéma n°603 - July/August 2005 (2005-08)Cahiers du cinéma
Asia plays with the lens, she is a great accomplice.
Louis Garrel, 2008
Louis called me one day asking me to take photos. He met me in a small hotel in the 5th arrondissement in Paris that I was familiar with.
Cahiers du cinéma n°636 - July/August 2008 (2008-08)Cahiers du cinéma
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