Benoît Lamy(1945-2008)

Benoît Lamy, born in Arlon in 1945, was one of the few Belgian filmmakers (along with André Delvaux, Harry Kümel and Chantal Akerman ) whose films were known in the 1970s beyond the borders of his native Belgium. Lamy studied film in Brussels and soon became assistant director to filmmakers such as Yves Ciampi or 'Pier Paolo Pasolini' (Oedipus Rex (1967)). He also co-wrote 'Pierre Laroche ''s Il pleut dans ma maison (1969). He was only twenty-five when he made his first short, Margrit Circus (1970), soon followed by Cartoon circus (1972), directed in collaboration with Picha. His next two films, Home Sweet Home (1973) and Ham and Chips (1977) were two comedies, both ingrained in French-speaking Belgium and universal, the first one denouncing the way old people are treated in retirement homes and the second presenting a Romeo and Juliet-like story against a commercial war backdrop. Co-produced by Jacques Perrin (who also acted in 'Home Sweet Home') and played by French actors and actresses in leading roles (Claude Jade, Annie Girardot), the two comedies were distributed in France and were rather successful. Afterwards, Benoît Lamy was less heard of. Not that he had become lazy! On the contrary, he went on making or producing films (through his firm Lamy Films). Simply, their distribution was more restricted. Too bad, because his production remained interesting, especially the two "African" movies he made starring Papa Wemba, Life Is Rosy (1987) and Wild Games (1997) The end of Benoît Lamy was tragic. After coming out of the closet (he had been married to Bonbon who had given him two children), he had chosen to live with a man. Unfortunately, on 15-4-2008, his companion beat him to death. He was sixty-two and would never know the "Home, Sweet Home" he depicted so well in first feature film.