Euzhan Palcy Single-handedly Brought Marlon Brando Back to the Screen

Born in Martinique, French West Indies, Palcy studied the films of Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder and Orson Welles. She lit out for Paris in 1975 where she earned three degrees: one in French Literature, a D.E.A. in Art and Archeology and a film degree.

Francois Truffaut was Palcy's "French Godfather." It was Truffaut who encouraged Palcy to try her hand at putting together a film. Her first endeavor "Sugar Cane Alley" (1983) won a total of seventeen awards.

Robert Redford was so impressed with Palcy's work that he invited her to attend the 1984 Sundance Director's Lab at Sundance Institute. He became known as her "American Godfather."

It was Palcy's next project which moved Marlon Brando to come out of self-imposed retirement to star in "A Dry White Season" (1989) based on the novel by South African writer, André Brink. The story centered on the social movements in South Africa and particularly focused on the Soweto riots. Palcy worked undercover as a recording artist in Soweto to paint an accurate portrayal of the riots. The film also starred Donald Sutherland and Susan Sarandon. It was released under the MGM label.

Brando, who performed his part in the movie for free, earned a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination and a Best Actor Award at the Tokyo Film Festival. Palcy received the "Orson Welles Award" in Los Angeles.

With this film, Palcy became the first black woman to direct a film for a major Hollywood film studio.

Palcy worked for Disney Studios, directing and producing "Ruby Bridges" (1998) the story of the New Orleans girl who was the first to integrate public schools. She also directed and "The Killing Yard" (2001) with Alan Alda and Morris Chestnut.

Alda was very impressed with Palcy as a director. "Euzhan Palcy has an unusual combination of abilities. She can give you an extraordinary action sequence that gets your adrenaline pumping and then she can move right into an intimate scene between two people that comes straight from the soul. Women are often not considered when it comes to directing action movies, but Euzhan has a range that would be hard to find in most directors, males or female."[1]

Palcy's credits are numerous, including documentaries such as "Aime Cesaire, A Voice For History" (1994) about famed Martinique poet. All of Palcy's work has received critical and popular acclaim.

But she left Hollywood for awhile for a sabbatical in Paris in an effort to prevent being typecast, stating, "nor did I want to be used by putting my name on everything to advance someone else's agenda. That's why I don't have a lot of films."

Palcy's long list of honors includes the distinction of Knight in the National Order Merit, bestowed upon her in 1994 by French President, Francois Mitterrand. A movie theater in Amiens, France is named for her as is a high school dedicated to the study of film. She received the Sojourner Truth Award in 2001 at the Cannes Film Festival and the French Medal of Honor in 2004. In 2009, she was honored with the title of Officer in the National Order of Merit from French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Roger Ebert had this to say about Palcy: "Euzhan Palcy strikes me as proof that great directors can come from anywhere-but they must know they are great directors and trust they are great."[1]

As of 2007, Palcy was reportedly working on another film, "Midnight's Last Ride" starring Ellen Burstyn and Sam Shepard, allegedly a comedy drama and a project close to her heart.

Palcy shares, "I make films that make my heart grow strong. When I read a script, I need to feel it!"[1]

A true pioneer, Palcy opened doors in the film industry for black women directors, producers and writers.

[1] Internet Movie Database