Art-house director whose films deal mainly with political themes. "Ghost Dance" (1983) was a somewhat whimsical exercise featuring a notable cameo appearance by French philosopher Jacques Derrida; "Zina" (1985), based on the life of Trotsky's daughter, was a stylish, intriguing blend of personal, psychological concerns with wider social issues; and "1871" was a visually sumptuous, multi-layered treatment of the Paris Commune which was selected for the "Un Certain Regard" section of the 1990 Cannes festival.