Biography

Henri Calef was a French film director and screenwriter known for his contributions to post-World War II cinema. Born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, he moved to France and began his career as an assistant director, working on films such as The Lafarge Case (1938). Calef made his directorial debut with L'Extravagante Mission (1945). He gained recognition with Jericho (1946), a film about French Resistance fighters, and Les Chouans (1947), an adaptation of Honoré de Balzac's novel. His filmography includes La Maison sous la mer (1947), Les Eaux troubles (1949), and La Souricière (1950). Calef's works are noted for their narrative depth and exploration of human resilience.