Maurice Failevic

Maurice Failevic (14 August 1933 – 27 December 2016) was a French film director. A communist, he directed 50+ films about class struggles, depicting the lives of members of the French working class, from peasants during the French Revolution to the unemployed, factory workers and banlieue dwellers in the 20th century. He directed films for cinema and television as well as documentaries.

He was the recipient of several awards for his work, including the Prix de la critique from the International Critics' Week twice, the Fipa d'or and the Fipa d'argent, and the Grand Prix from the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques. On his death, the French Culture Minister, Audrey Azoulay, said he "stood for an activist approach to cinema, based on his commitment to political and social engagement".