André S. Labarthe: French actor, documentary maker and chronicler of cinema

Career and major works

Labarthe first drew attention as an actor, appearing alongside Anna Karina in Godard's Vivre sa vie (1962) and taking parts in other Godard projects such as L'amour fou (1969) and the reflective JLG/JLG – Self-Portrait in December (1995). While acting remained part of his profile, his enduring reputation rests on his work behind the camera: he wrote, directed and produced numerous television documentaries that focused on filmmakers and the process of making films.

Cinéastes de notre temps and documentary practice

Labarthe co‑devised and directed episodes of the influential television series Cinéastes de notre temps, a program of filmed interviews and portraits that introduced wide audiences to the techniques, careers and personalities of leading directors. The series combined close, conversational interviews with selective film excerpts and observational footage, helping to shape television documentary standards for cinema criticism and history.

• Selected film appearances: Vivre sa vie (1962), L'amour fou (1969), Les Enfants jouent à la Russie (1993).
• Key television contribution: long‑running filmmaker portraits collected under the Cinéastes de notre temps banner.
• Role: intermediary between filmmakers and the public, translating aesthetic concerns into accessible film essays.

Labarthe's method emphasized attentive listening and a respect for the director's own voice, producing documentaries that are part interview, part critical essay. His programs remain a resource for students, historians and cinephiles interested in postwar European cinema and the development of auteur theory on screen.

Born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, in the department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France, Labarthe maintained a steady presence in French cultural life until his death in Paris on 5 March 2018. His documentaries and filmed interviews preserve firsthand testimony from many important filmmakers and continue to be cited in studies of cinema history.