Lamorisse Helicopter memorial, in Karaj Dam, winter 2018
Albert Lamorisse (French:[lamɔʁis]; 13 January 1922 – 2 June 1970) was a French filmmaker, film producer, and writer of short films which he began making in the late 1940s.
Lamorisse was born inParis, France. He first came into prominence – just afterBim (1950) – for directing and producingWhite Mane (1953). This is a short film that tells a fable of how a young boy befriends an untamable wild white stallion in the marshes ofCamargue (thePetite Camargue) in Southern France.
Lamorisse also wrote, directed and produced the filmsStowaway in the Sky (1960) andCircus Angel, as well as the documentariesVersailles andParis Jamais Vu. In addition to films, he created the popular strategyboard gameRisk in 1957, originally with the titleLa Conquête du Monde (The Conquest of the World).[3] In the mid-1960s Lamorisse shot parts ofThe Prospect of Iceland, a documentary about Iceland, which was made by Henry Sandoz and commissioned byNATO.[4]
Lamorisse died in ahelicopter crash while filming the documentaryLe Vent des amoureux (The Lovers' Wind), during a helicopter tour of Iran in 1970.[5] His son and widow completed the film, based on his production notes, and released it eight years later. It was nominated for aposthumous Oscar for best documentary. The titleThe Lovers' Wind is translated intoBad-e Saba inPersian. A saba wind is a gentle wind that blows from the northeast, symbolizing the whispers of lovers.
Albert and Claude Lamorisse had three children named Pascal, Sabine, and Fanny. Pascal and Sabine were featured inThe Red Balloon.
