Michel Soutter

Michel Soutter (2 June 1932 – 9 September 1991) was a Swiss film director and screenwriter associated with the New Swiss Cinema. After beginning his career in television, he founded Groupe 5 in 1968 to promote French-language filmmaking in Switzerland. He later served on the Feature Films jury at the 1974 Cannes Film Festival.

Life and career Michel Soutter was born on 2 June 1932 in Geneva. After leaving Collège Calvin, he spent time in Geneva and Paris, working as a cabaret singer, and decorative painter.

A meeting with filmmaker Alain Tanner in 1960 led Soutter into television and cinema.

Soutter's film James ou pas was selected for the Directors' Fortnight at the 1970 Cannes Film Festival. His film L'Escapade (1974) was his first 35 mm colour film.

Soutter died in Geneva on 9 September 1991. A digitally restored version of his 1977 film Repérages was presented at the Locarno Film Festival in 2024 as part of its "Swiss Cinema Rediscovered" programme.

Selected filmography A selection of Soutter's films as director includes:

Mick et Arthur (1965) La lune avec les dents (1966) Haschich (1967) La Pomme (1968) James ou pas (1970) Les Arpenteurs (1971) L'Escapade (1974) Repérages (1977) L'amour des femmes (1981) Adam et Eve (1983) Signé Renart (1985) Condorcet (1989) L'homme révolté 1966-1973 (1991) Le film du Cinéma Suisse (1991)