Jean-Claude Lauzon

Jean-Claude Lauzon (September 29, 1953 – August 10, 1997) was a Canadian filmmaker and screenwriter. Born to a working class family in Montreal, Quebec, Lauzon dropped out of high school and worked various jobs before studying film at the Université du Québec à Montréal. His two feature-length films, Night Zoo and Léolo (1992), established him as one of the most important Canadian directors of his generation. American film critic Roger Ebert wrote that "Lauzon is so motivated by his resentments and desires that everything he creates is pressed into the cause and filled with passion."

His film Léolo is widely considered to be one of the best Canadian films of all time. and was included on Time 's list of the 100 greatest films that were released between March 3, 1923—when the first issue of Time was published—and early 2005, when the list was compiled.

Lauzon's career was cut short by his death in a plane crash in 1997 at the age of 43.

Early life Born to a working class family in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Lauzon worked a variety of odd jobs after dropping out of high school. He went on to study film at the Université du Québec à Montréal at the behest of Andre Petrowski, a member of the National Film Board of Canada. His first short film, titled Super Maire, won the Norman McLaren Award at the Canadian Student Film Festival in 1979. and won the Golden Reel Award for being the highest-grossing Canadian film of that year. It was included on Time 's list of the 100 greatest films that were released between March 3, 1923—when the first issue of Time was published—and early 2005, when the list was compiled.

After the success of his first two films, Lauzon focused on directing commercials for television and spent most of his time in northern Quebec flying his Cessna 180 Skywagon, fishing, and hunting.

Artistry Playback wrote that Lauzon's films were "substantially autobiographical in nature". Collaborators described the director as "an extremely creative and intense personality for whom making films was painful." American film critic Roger Ebert wrote that "Lauzon is so motivated by his resentments and desires that everything he creates is pressed into the cause and filled with passion."

Death Lauzon was preparing his third feature-length film when he died, along with his girlfriend, Canadian actress Marie-Soleil Tougas, in a plane crash. On August 10, 1997, the Cessna 180 Skywagon that Lauzon was piloting flew into a mountainside in strong winds and rain near Kuujjuaq, Quebec while returning from a fishing trip. Lauzon was 43 years old when he died. He was buried in a private ceremony.

Filmography Super Maire, 1979 - short film Piwi, 1981 - short film Night Zoo (Un zoo la nuit), 1987 - feature film Léolo, 1992 - feature film