Mona Achache

Mona Achache (born 18 March 1981) is a French-Moroccan film director, screenwriter, and actress. She wrote and directed the feature films The Hedgehog, Les Gazelles (2014), Valiant Hearts (2021), and Little Girl Blue (2023). She also directed the Netflix documentary The Women and the Murderer (2021). In 2024, she was nominated for the César Award for Best Documentary Film for Little Girl Blue.

Early life Achache was born in Paris, France on 18 March 1981. and her father is French director and screenwriter Jean Achache. She has a brother. Her maternal grandparents were French writer Monique Lange, Her maternal grandmother was born Jewish and later converted to Catholicism. Her maternal great-grandfather, Robert Lange, was a French journalist and politician. Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo was her maternal step-grandfather. Her paternal grandmother, Suzanne Achache–Wiznitzer, was an Austrian-Jewish psychoanalyst who survived the Holocaust as a child while hidden in the Château de Chambord in France during World War II.

Achache received a literary and theatrical education. , released in 2004, which became a reference in more than 500 maternity wards in France during birth preparation sessions.

In 2005, she wrote and directed the short film Suzanne, based on the story of her grandmother, who witnessed her father being arrested by the Nazis when she was 13 years old.

In 2009, Achache wrote and directed her first feature film, The Hedgehog, based on the novel The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. based on the real-life story of her grandmother, Suzanne Achache–Wiznitzer, who was a Jewish child placed in foster care to escape the Holocaust. That same year, she also directed the Netflix documentary The Women and the Murderer, about French serial killer Guy Georges.

In 2023, Achache wrote, directed, and played herself in the French docudrama Little Girl Blue. The film tells the story of her mother, and for the César Award for Best Documentary Film.

Personal life In the early 2000s, Achache was in a relationship with director Christophe Ruggia. She later revealed that their relationship ended after he confessed to her that he had fallen in love with and inappropriately touched actress Adèle Haenel, who was at that time underage. This confession corroborated Haenel's account of sexual abuse at the hands of Ruggia.

Achache is married to French cinematographer Patrick Blossier. She has three children,

Achache is a member of the French gender equality group Collectif 50/50.

Filmography Feature films Year Title Role Notes 2003 Father and Sons Assistant director Directed by Michel Boujenah 2009 The Hedgehog Director and screenwriter 2013 Les gamins Screenwriter Directed by Anthony Marciano 2014 Les Gazelles Director and screenwriter 2021 Valiant Hearts Director and screenwriter 2023 Little Girl Blue Director, screenwriter and actress

Short films Year Title Role Notes 2005 SuzanneDirector and screenwriter Based on the story of Suzanne Achache-Wiznitzer

Documentaries YearTitle Role Notes 2004 Director 2016 Grandmas Project Director and cinematographer Documentary web-series; episode "Marillenknödel" Giffoni Film Festival Best Short Film 2009 Cairo International Film Festival Best DirectorThe Hedgehog FIPRESCI Prize Silver Pyramid Special Award Golden Pyramid Valladolid International Film Festival Best Film - Audience Award Golden Spike - Best Film Best Director 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Washington DC Filmfest Audience Award 2012 Chlotrudis Award Best Adapted Screenplay 2023 Cannes Film Festival L'Œil d'orLittle Girl Blue CineLibri Best Documentary Jury Award Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie Best Medium or Feature-Length Documentary Prix Louis-Delluc Best Film 2024 Lumière Awards Best Documentary Paris Film Critics Association Awards César Awards Best Documentary Film Trophées du Film français Scam Award for Best Documentary