Legacy Lives On


The New York Times published an obituary article for Francois Truffault on October 22nd 1984, a day after his death. He died at the age of 52 after being hospitalized for the treatment of cancer. The article states that he was one of the most important film directors of the twentieth century and the New Wave's most respected director. People often praised him for his depictions of passionate women, children, and obsessive men. Truffault wrote that unlike Americans, European filmmakers chased sentiments as opposed to grand stories and enterprises.

The article also explains how his life changed after meeting famous film critic Andre Balzin and his wife.  He wrote several books throughout his career including Hitchcock and The Films in my Career.
His work itself faced much criticism, including one of his later fims "Confidentially Yours."  American film critic Vincent Canby wrote that the movie was "a bright, knowing, somewhat too affectionate variation on the sort of bloodless murder mysteries that were as much a staples of Hollywood production." Criticised and praised, he paved the way for directors such as Jean-Luc Godard and Claude Chabrol.

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