Music critic for COMBAT magazine

Worked as a technician or assistant on various films after graduating from IDHEC

First short film as director, "Nous n'irons plus au bois"

Directed first feature, "Bonjour sourire"

Continued working as an assistant director; also became a TV producer

Directed second film, "Classe tous risques/The Big Risk"

Worked for much of the 1960s primarily as a screenwriter on such film as Jacques Deray's "Symphonie pour un massacre" (1960), Jean-Paul Rappeneau's "La vie de chateau" (1966) and Philippe de Broca's "La diable par la queue" (1969)

Directed third film, "L'Arme a gauche/Guns for the Dictator"

Received greater critical attention after directing "The Things of Life"; began making films on a regular basis

Appeared as himself in "Patrick Dewaere", a biograpical documentary of the French film actor who committed suicide in 1982

Helmed and scripted "Un Coeur en hiver/A Heart in Winter"

Wrote and directed the well-received "Nelly et M. Arnaud"