Margaret Menegoz, ‘Amour,’ ‘The White Ribbon’ Producer, Dies at 83

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Margaret Menegoz, ‘Amour,’ ‘The White Ribbon’ Producer, Dies at 83

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of loss with the passing of Margaret Menegoz. Her legacy, spanning nearly half a century, is nothing short of extraordinary. Born in Hungary, expelled, and yet finding her calling in France – it seems fate had a hand in crafting this remarkable story.

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Margaret Menegoz, a renowned figure in French cinema. Known for her role as head of Les Films du Losange, she was instrumental in producing films by Michael Hanke, Wim Wenders, Éric Rohmer, and many others. She was 83 years old.

The statement from the company announced that Menegoz passed away in Montpellier on August 7th. They highlighted her passion for films and dedication to filmmakers, traits synonymous with Les Films du Losange, as well as her openness towards Europe and international cinema, which she deeply admired. In essence, they portrayed Menegoz as a forward-thinking individual who cherished the global film scene.

For nearly half a century, Menegoz steered Les Films du Losange, joining the company in 1973. During her tenure, she produced over 60 films such as Haneke’s “Amour,” “The White Ribbon,” and “Cache,” Wenders’ 1977 film “The American Friend,” Volker Schlöndorff’s “Swann in Love” (1984), Agnieszka Holland’s “Europa Europa” (1990), Rohmer’s “A Tale of Springtime” (1990) and “A Tale of Winter” (1992), among numerous others.

In 2013, Love was nominated for five Oscars, one of which went to Menegoz in the category of Best Feature. Additionally, it earned a nomination for Best International Feature and ultimately won that category. Meanwhile, The White Ribbon received two Oscar nominations as well.

Born in Hungary in 1941, this film producer of both German and French descent was forced to leave the country with her family due to their German origins following the Siege of Budapest in 1945. She spent her childhood in Germany. In 1975, Menegoz joined Les Films du Losange, a production company established by Rohmer and Barbet Schroeder in 1962. Initially working as an assistant on Rohmer’s 1976 film “Marquise Of O,” which starred Edith Clever and Bruno Ganz, Menegoz stepped in to manage the company when Schroeder was busy preparing his 1975 film “Mistress.” She continued to oversee the company after that.

For a significant portion of her career at Les Films du Losange, Menegoz had the privilege of working alongside a number of influential European filmmakers such as Wenders, Rohmer, Haneke, Andrzej Wajda, Lars Von Trier, Margarethe von Trotta, Christian Petzold, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Her collaboration with Austrian director Michael Haneke started with his 2001 film “The Piano Teacher,” and she was responsible for producing all of his subsequent German- and French-language films including “Amour,” starring Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, and Isabelle Huppert; and more recently, “Happy End,” which also stars Huppert.

1986 saw Menegoz initiate a theatrical distribution label for Les Films du Losange, followed by an international sales division in the early 90s. In 2021, she arranged for the company’s sale to Alexis Dantec and Charles Gillibert, thus ensuring the long-standing business would persist.

Additionally, Menegoz was a dedicated advocate for French films and served as the president of Unifrance, a cinema export organization, following the unexpected passing of her predecessor and friend Daniel Toscan du Plantier at the Berlin Film Festival in 2003. She held this position until 2009.

Daniela Elstner, current head of Unifrance, wrote in a statement that “Margaret didn’t just work internationally, she embodied it.” In her own words, Margaret’s creations will serve as a testament to her global mindset and affection for the world. She was an inspiring figure for numerous young women, including myself. Margaret shared with me all the wisdom about cinema that transcends borders, encouraging us to think beyond conventional limits. Farewell, Margaret, we will deeply mourn your absence.

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2024-08-11 17:24