Director Jean-Jacques Annaud was on the We Are French Touch (WAFT) stage last January to share his vision of French cinema. 

« I spent the last 45 years of my life abroad ". It is with the hindsight of his international experiences that Jean-Jacques Annaud came to talk about the French Touch in the cinema. The director expresses his passion for France: “ I made all my films with a French heart ". In particular, he recounts his admiration for the French heritage which has inspired many of his films such as In the name of the Rose or his latest feature film, Notre Dame is burningProduced by Jérôme Seydoux, president of the Pathé group.  

“In 1907 France produced 87% of world cinema” 

His first ambition as a director was not to confine himself to a cinema that was intended only for the French. " It was unbearable that only Anglo-Saxon films had access to international theaters “says the director. He is indignant to see that the French cinema is still struggling to find a place for itself on the international scene. « In 1907 France produced 87% of world cinema, the whole world watched French films. Today, when the Americans sell a thousand films, the French only sell one. ».  

In a world where American cinema dominates the market, the first key to exporting is to play on our French identity. " For The Name of the Rose, it was the French Touch, the fact that I was French, that convinced Umberto Eco, the writer of the original book and a great admirer of France. », explains Jean-Jacques Annaud. He says he received a warm welcome in the United States thanks to his nationality, “ the Americans are ready to pay us dearly ". It is however necessary to respect certain dictates of the American cinema like the perfect command of English. " If the actors don't speak English they can't promote and subtitled films end up in small theaters “, denounces the director.