René Verzier

Canadian cinematographer (1934–2024)

René Verzier
Born	1934 (1934) Casablanca, Morocco
Died	January 1, 2024 (aged 89) Granby, Quebec, Canada
Occupation	Cinematographer

René Verzier (1934 – January 1, 2024) was a Canadian cinematographer, who worked predominantly in the cinema of Quebec.^[1] He was most noted as a Genie Award nominee for Best Cinematography, receiving dual nods at the 8th Genie Awards in 1987 for his work on the films The Morning Man (Un matin, une vie) and Toby McTeague.^[2]

Originally from Morocco, Verzier began his career as a photographer, notably serving as the official photographer for kings Mohammed V and Hassan II.^[1] After serving as a safari guide for a National Film Board of Canada crew that was in the country making a documentary, he emigrated to Canada in 1966 and worked on documentary films for the NFB before making his feature debut as the cinematographer on Denis Héroux's 1969 film Valérie.^[1] He worked regularly on the films of Héroux, Roger Fournier and Gilles Carle in the 1970s, and began working more frequently on English-language films, both theatrical and television films, in the late 1970s and 1980s.^[1]

Verzier died on January 1, 2024, at the age of 89.^[1]

Filmography

Film

Brahim (ou le collier de beignets) – 1957^[3]
Un troubadour de Marrakech – 1961^[4]
Les enfants du soleil – 1961^[5]
Âmes et rythmes – 1962
Retour aux sources (Arabic: الرجوع إلى الأصل) – 1963^[6]
La peinture marocaine – 1964^[7]
La Route des vacances – 1964^[4]
Le Logis des hommes – 1964^[4]
Les Chemins du Rif – 1967^[4]
Gros Morne – 1967
Valérie – 1969
Here and Now (L'Initiation) – 1970
Love in a Four Letter World – 1970
The Awakening (L'Amour humain) – 1970
Heads or Tails (Pile ou face) – 1971
The Men (Les mâles) – 1971
Seven Times a Day (7 fois...par jour) – 1971
Hold on to Daddy's Ears (Tiens-toi bien après les oreilles à papa) – 1971
The Possession of Virginia (Le diable est parmi nous) – 1972
The Apparition (L'Apparition) – 1972
The True Nature of Bernadette (La vraie nature de Bernadette) – 1972
The Death of a Lumberjack (La Mort d'un bûcheron) – 1973
The Pyx – 1973
There's Always a Way to Find a Way (Y'a toujours moyen de moyenner!) – 1973
I Love You (Je t'aime) – 1974
By the Blood of Others (Par le sang des autres) – 1974
Les aventures d'une jeune veuve – 1974
Letters – 1975
Mustang – 1975
Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris – 1975
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane – 1976
Rabid – 1977
Rituals – 1977
High-Ballin' – 1978
Two Solitudes – 1978
Search and Destroy – 1979
City on Fire – 1979
Fish Hawk – 1979
Death Ship – 1980
Hog Wild – 1980
Deadly Companion – 1980
Gas – 1981
Visiting Hours – 1982
Deadly Eyes – 1982
The Funny Farm – 1983
Joy – 1983
Of Unknown Origin – 1983
Covergirl – 1983
Cross Country – 1983
One Night Only – 1984
Toby McTeague – 1985
Breaking All the Rules – 1985
Perfect Timing – 1986
The Vindicator – 1986
Bullies – 1986
The Morning Man (Un matin, une vie) – 1986
Wild Thing – 1987
Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! – 1989
The Postmistress (La Postière) – 1992
Le Zombi de Cap-Rouge – 1997
Frozen with Fear – 2001
My One Only Love (Je n'aime que toi) – 2004

Television

Jo Gaillard – 1975
The Newcomers: "1832" – 1978
Reckless Disregard – 1985
In Like Flynn – 1985
Miles to Go – 1986
After the Promise – 1987
Shades of Love: Lilac Dream – 1987
Shades of Love: The Rose Café – 1987
Shades of Love: Sincerely, Violet – 1987
Shades of Love: Champagne for Two – 1987
Mount Royal: "The Ties That Bind" – 1988
Liberace: Behind the Music – 1988
No Blame – 1988
Red Earth, White Earth – 1989
The Penthouse – 1989
Bordertown – 1989–1991

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Charles-Henri Ramond, "René Verzier nous a quittés". Films du Québec, January 12, 2024.
^ Greg Quill, "Decline rises to top Genie nominations". Toronto Star, February 5, 1987.
^ "LA PERIODE DU PROTECTORAT, DE 1950 A 1959". Retrieved 2024-01-17.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Africultures, René Verzier".
^ Boulanger, Pierre (January 1975). Le cinéma colonial: de L'Atlantide à Lawrence d'Arabie (in French). Seghers (réédition numérique FeniXX). ISBN 978-2-232-12902-5.
^ "Africine, Retour aux sources - الرجوع إلى الأصل Return to the origins". Africine.org. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
^ "LA PEINTURE MAROCAINE". Moroccan Cinematographic Center. Retrieved 2024-01-17.