Versailles, the visit

GERARD CORBIAU

THE DIRECTOR

Gérard Corbiau began in 1968, with the editing of "La grande barrière de corail" (The Great Coral Reef) a documentary feature film which won the gold medal at Venice in 1969. He then embarked on a career as a director of documenatry films at the RTBF (Belgium Television), for whom he directed over fifty films. The Television's critics twice remarked on the originality of his research on the detailed analysis of the relationship between music and fiction and awarded him the Antenne de Cristal for "Sax" in 1981 and "A la recherche de S" in 1983. In 1987, Gérard Corbiau directed his first feature film for the cinema, a costumed musical: the "Maître de musique" (the Music Master), with José Van Dam in the title role. The film was very successful and was nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign film category in 1988 and obtained, besides 15 other distinctions, the jury's special prize at the Rio festival.

towards the web site devoted to Farinelli the movie

In 1990 Gérard Corbiau directed, "l'Année de l'éveil" (The Year of the Awakening) and in 1994 "Farinelli" which again obtained an Oscar nomination for the best foreign film, two Césars (best sound and best direction) and, in Belgium, the golden Olivier for the best film of the year. The same year, he completed directing the documentary "Nostalgie d'une voix perdue" (Nostalgia of a Lost Voice), a making of about the musical adventure of Farinelli. With "VERSAILLES, la visite" (Versailles, the Visit), Gérard Corbiau has directed a documentary which is enriched by the spectacle and emotion of fiction.

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THE AUTHOR

Head Curator at the palace of Versailles, Béatrix Saule lends herself with passion and dynamism to the enhancement of all aspects of the palace. Director of the Department for Publics and Cultural Services, she is in charge of carrying out the palace's cultural policy and originated the development of the visit programmes proposed to the public. Curator of the exhibition "Versailles et les tables royales en Europe" (Versailles and the royal tables of Europe) in 1993-1994, her major catalogue contribution made it possible to bring knowledge on customs and table manners at Versailles up to date. General Curator of the exhbition "Topkapi à Versailles, trésors de la Cour Ottomane" (Topkapi at Versailles, treasures of the Ottoman Court) in 1999, she enabled the meeting at Versailles of two cultures and two ideas of monarchy. She is also author of the CD Rom Versailles, le complot (Versailles, the plot) which was launched in 1996; and author-designer of the Internet site www.châteauversailles.fr.
Béatrix Saule has written Poum Tiya et le Roi Solei (Poum Tiya and the Sun King), an illustrated childrens' book which received the Saint Exupery prize and Versailles triomphant, une journée de Louis XIV (Versailles triumphant, a day in the life of Louis XIV), which has been reprinted several times.

Béatrix Saule is currently preparing a major event which will take place in front of the Orangerie at Versailles, from June to October 2000, on the subject of gardens, on the occasion of the tricentenary of the death of André Le Nôtre.

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