Humbert Balsan 1954-2005

On the glittering opening night of the Berlin film festival a few evenings ago, it was announced on stage that the French producer Humbert Balsan had died. Many in the audience did not know the name, but those in the 'business' certainly did. What made it even more tragic was that Balsan was only 50 years old and had hanged himself.

He seemed to have achieved so much in his relatively short life, becoming a powerful force in both French and Middle East cinema, producing over 60 films. Balsan was behind the films of several Arab directors, especially those of the Egyptian Youssef Chahine, all of whose films he produced since Adieu Bonaparte (1985), and French films that tried to extend the language of cinema. 

Balsan was born in Arcachon into an industrial dynasty. But he dreamed of another destiny. After studying with Jesuits in Amiens, he made for Paris, and while studying economics, started acting in cinema at the age of 19. His first role was as Gawain in Robert Bresson's Lancelot of the Lake (1974). He then became an assistant director to Bresson on The Devil Probably (1977). Although he continued to take small roles in his friend's films until recently, including a part in Maurice Pialat's Loulou (1980), he found acting frustrating. Before finding his real vocation as a producer, Balsan directed one film, a documentary on the great French music teacher Nadia Boulanger (1980).

His support for Arab film-makers 'happened by accident, but it's since become something of a ritual,' Balsan commented at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival with the showing of The Gate of the Sun (Bab El Shams) a four and a half hour epic that charts the history of Palestine from 1943 to the present day. 'I love helping directors from the region, but it is not a political statement. I could easily produce an Israeli film tomorrow. Cinema crosses borders, and in the Middle East these borders are very delicate.'

The year before, Balsan put his money behind Elia Suleiman's Divine Intervention, a Palestinian satire on the tense situation in that part of the world, which won the International Critic's Prize at Cannes. Souleman, on hearing of Balsan's death, commented. 'He said "yes" when 99.9% of producers said "No". There was something child-like in him. He hated convention. He didn't need to be convinced that I wanted to do something crazy. He was really a rare human being.'

One of the first initiatives Balsan proposed when he became President of the European Film Academy in 2004 was to invite Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers to join the academy. 'There has been great enthusiasm in Israel. It's important that they and other Mediterranean countries feel part of our community. Cinema is a tool to bring people together.'

Balsan was also associate producer on almost all the Merchant-Ivory films since 1990 and, despite it being the team's least successful period, Balsan stuck by them faithfully. Among the latest of his French films were Claire Denis's surreal L'Intrus (2004) and Le Grand Voyage by Ismael Ferroukhi, which won a Golden Lion at Venice last year for a first film. 

The elegant Balsan, who seduced everyone with his passion for films, hated the side of the industry which was more and more in the hands of businessmen and technicians. Yet, unbeknown to many, under his carefree façade, he suffered deep depression which drove him to his final act. He leaves a wife and two children.

Ronald Bergan

Humbert Balsan, film producer; born August 21,1954; died February 10, 2005

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