What happened to Michel Ciment?

Michel Ciment, the distinguished French film critic, historian, author, radio producer, and editor of the influential film magazine Positif, passed away at the age of 85. His demise was announced on Monday by France Inter, the home of his cultural program Le Masque et la Plume since 1970.

Described as “perhaps the freest and most encyclopedic mind that film criticism has ever produced” by Jérome Garcin, the producer of Le Masque et la Plume, Ciment made his final appearance on the show in September, marking the end of an era. Additionally, he produced Projection privée on France Culture radio from 1990 to 2016, earning recognition as an “immense critic and historian” who dedicated his life to conveying his erudition and passion for cinema through words and writing.

Ciment’s journey in film criticism began in 1963 when he submitted a story about Orson Welles’ film “The Trial” to Positif. This marked the start of a transformative period as he eventually became the editor, establishing the monthly publication as a formidable rival to Cahiers du Cinéma.

His literary contributions included books on notable figures like Stanley Kubrick, Elia Kazan, Joseph Losey, Francesco Rosi, Fritz Lang, Jane Campion, and John Boorman. “Passport to Hollywood,” first published in 1987, showcased interviews with luminaries such as Billy Wilder, John Huston, Joseph Mankiewicz, Roman Polanski, Milos Forman, and Wim Wenders, solidifying Ciment’s legacy as a versatile and influential figure in the world of cinema.