Biography
French cinematographer Philippe Rousselot began as an assistant to Nestor Almendros on the
Eric Rohmer-directed films of the late '60s and early '70s. On his own, Rousselot lensed several of the nostalgic films of director
Diane Kurys (Peppermint Soda,
Cocktail Molotov). For his versatile Eastmancolor camerawork (including an incredible subway chase) in Jean-Jacques Benaix's
Diva, Rousselot won the first of his César awards; his second was for the realistically stylish
Thérèse (1986). Rousselot's accomplishments on the international scene have been numerous, and include work for both British and American directors. In the former category, he has earned Oscar nominations for
John Boorman's
Hope and Glory (1987) and
Stephen Frears'
Dangerous Liaisons (1988). For American directors, Rousselot has met with particular acclaim for his work on
Henry and June (1991) (for which he earned an Oscar nomination),
Interview with the Vampire (1994), and
A River Runs Through It (1992), for which he won an Oscar. Two years later, he won his third César for his camera work for
La Reine Margot. Rousselot continued to do consistent and varied work on both sides of the Atlantic throughout the remainder of the decade, putting his imprint on such films as The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) and
Random Hearts (1999). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide