After studying literature Denis Gheerbrant (born 1948) joined the famous film school IDHEC (now FEMIS) in 1969. When he left the school he had obtained two degrees, one in direction and the other in cinematography. From 1972 on he has had several activities in the movie field. Whether exploring post-industrial France or the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, Gheerbrant brings a distinctive rigour to all his films. His documentary work is noted for its “oreille absolu” — the sense that Gheerbrant is listening intently to his subjects and establishing genuine relationships with them. He draws inspiration from still photography and is himself an accomplished photographer and cinematographer. He does the camera work on all his films and has collaborated with such noted directors as René Allio and Jean-Pierre Denis. He did the cinematography for Denis’s feature film Histoire d’Adrien, which won the Caméra d’or at Cannes.