Question 1

True or false: Assayas wrote and directed the 2010 miniseries 'Carlos', about the terrorist Carlos the Jackal.

Accepted Answer

True. This epic five-hour biopic won him a Golden Globe and an Emmy, showcasing his skill with political thrillers on a grand scale.

Question 2

True or false: Assayas's 'Personal Shopper' is a psychological thriller with no supernatural elements.

Accepted Answer

False. It actually features ghostly encounters and séances, blending a fashion-world drama with eerie, metaphysical undertones.

Question 3

True or false: His film 'Irma Vep' is a documentary about the making of a French superhero movie.

Accepted Answer

False. It's a fictional comedy-drama starring Maggie Cheung, not a documentary, though it playfully critiques the French film industry.

Question 4

True or false: He once worked as an assistant director for the legendary French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard.

Accepted Answer

False. Though influenced by Godard, Assayas never served as his assistant; he was a film critic before turning to directing.

Question 5

True or false: Olivier Assayas began his career as a screenwriter for the French horror film 'Possession'.

Accepted Answer

False. He started as a critic for Cahiers du Cinéma and wrote scripts for others, but 'Possession' was directed by Andrzej Żuławski, not Assayas.

Question 6

True or false: Assayas's father was a famous French film director, which helped him enter the industry.

Accepted Answer

False. His father Jacques Rémy was a screenwriter, not a director. Assayas's entry came through his own writing and critical work.

Question 7

True or false: He directed a segment of the 2002 anthology film 'Ten Minutes Older: The Cello'.

Accepted Answer

True. His segment 'Dans le noir du temps' explores time and memory, part of a project with directors like Bernardo Bertolucci and Mike Figgis.

Question 8

True or false: Assayas directed a music video for the band Sonic Youth in the 1990s.

Accepted Answer

True. He directed the video for 'The Diamond Sea' in 1995, blending his indie film sensibility with their avant-garde rock aesthetic.

Olivier Assayas Trivia Questions