The Departed: Claude Berri

• Claude Berri, 1934-2008.

Berri got a good number of worthy films off the ground as a producer (Tess, The Bear, Queen Margot), as well as racking up a respectable list of credits as an actor (he popped up in Rivette's Va savoir? as a librarian) and director (Germinal, Jean de Florette, Manon of the Spring).

From the Variety obit:

Known in France for his commercial instincts, Berri produced films including Roman Polanski’s “Tess” and Milos Forman’s “Valmont,” as well as films by Eric Rohmer, Jean-Jacques Annaud and Costa-Gavra.

As a director, his films included “Jean de Florette” in 1986 and “Manon des Sources” (“Manon of the Spring”), both adapted from Marcel Pagnol’s vision of the French countryside. Other directing credits include “Lucie Aubrac,” “Germinal” and “Tchao Pantin.”

A producer for more than 60 films, Berri had two major box office successes in his later years. “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” (Welcome to the Sticks) was 2008’s box office phenomenon in Gaul. The comedy starring Dany Boon and Kad Merad sold over 20.4 million tickets in France -- the most ever for a French film.