An actress in Que la fête commence in 1975, she went behind the camera in a world that counted very few women directors: La Garce, then Zanzibar. She died at forty-two. On her stone, the second profession has as much room as the first: “Comédienne et Cinéaste” — actress and film-maker.
The story
Christine Pascal held all three trades of the direction of actors — acting, directing, staging in the theatre — in a cinema of the 1980s that counted very few women behind the camera.
Born at Lyon on 29 November 1953, Christine Pascal began as an actress and appeared in 1975 in Que la fête commence, by Bertrand Tavernier. She then moved to directing: La Garce in 1984, Zanzibar in 1989.
She died in Paris on 30 August 1996, at forty-two, after twenty years of work. On the stone in Division 8 the second trade takes up as much room as the first: “Christine PASCAL, 1953-1996, Comédienne et Cinéaste.” Two words were enough.
The grave
A brief inscription that says it all: “Christine PASCAL, 1953-1996, Comédienne et Cinéaste.” — actress and film-maker. The second profession has as much room as the first — which was far from a given for a woman who went behind the camera in the 1980s. Nothing of Que la fête commence, nothing of La Garce or Zanzibar: two words are enough.
On site, do not miss
An inscription of three elements in which the second profession counts as much as the first: “Christine PASCAL, 1953-1996, Comédienne et Cinéaste.” — actress and film-maker.
Visitors' questions
Where is Christine Pascal's grave?
In Division 8, avenue Casimir-Perier, fourth row — the same path as the chemist Dulong. The inscription is short and complete: “Christine PASCAL, 1953-1996, Comédienne et Cinéaste”, actress and film-maker.
Mademoiselle MarsWhich films did she direct?
La Garce (1984) and Zanzibar (1989), among others. She had begun as an actress, with Bertrand Tavernier, in Que la fête commence in 1975.
Nina CompaneezDid she direct for the stage too?
She did, in the theatre as well. She held all three jobs of directing actors — playing, filming, staging — in a world that then had very few women in any of them.
Chantal AkermanHow old was she when she died?
Forty-two, on 30 August 1996 in Paris. Her career had lasted twenty years, and her stone keeps the phrase that sums her up: “Comédienne et Cinéaste”, actress and film-maker. She was born in Lyon in 1953.
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