Macron and art stars mourn Alain Delon, the last giant of French cinema | Art

Politicians and artists in France reacted to the death of movie star Alain Delon, the last giant of French cinema and the one with wide international fame, who passed away at dawn today, Sunday.

“Alain-Fabien, Anouchka and Anthony, as well as Lupo (Dillon's dog), announce with deep sadness the passing of their father. He died peacefully at his home in Duchy, surrounded by his three children and his family (…) who ask you to respect his privacy, in this painful moment of mourning,” Delon's three children said in a joint statement, putting aside their differences after months of legal dispute over their father, who was weakened by illness.

The star of “Purple Noon,” “Le Samourai” and “The Swimming Pool” died around 3 a.m., his son Anthony said.

Macron and Dati mourn Delon

In a post on the X platform, French President Emmanuel Macron commented on Delon's death, saying, “Museo Klein or Rocco, Le Guibert or Le Samourai, Alain Delon played legendary roles, and made the world dream. He gave his unforgettable face to turn our lives upside down.”

Mr. Klein or Rocco, the Leopard or the Samurai, Alain Delon has played legendary roles and made the world dream. Lending his unforgettable face to shake up our lives.

Melancholic, popular, secretive, he was more than a star: a French monument. pic.twitter.com/1JTqPfVo5n

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 18, 2024

As for the resigned Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, she wrote on the same social media platform, “Alain Delon is no longer here. We thought he would not leave because he lived many lives,” considering that “with his death, he leaves France orphaned from one of the most beautiful roles on screen.”

Alain Delon is no more. We thought he was immortal, having had several lives, having played all the roles – cop, thug, unforgettable Tancrède, moving Monsieur Klein… -, having worked for the greatest, from Visconti to Godard, from Losey to Melville, having become himself one… pic.twitter.com/2ckFJanMEm

— Rachida Dati (@datirachida) August 18, 2024

Disagreements between children

Dillon made headlines in the summer of 2023 when his three children filed a lawsuit against the star's domestic helper, Hiromi Roland, accusing her of “exploiting their father's vulnerability.” The complaints were dismissed and the case was closed.

Then, in 2024, his children fought battles among themselves through the media and the courts. The two sons accused their sister of manipulating their father, who was suffering from lymphoma and had a stroke in 2019, and hiding the truth about his health condition from them.

In May 2019, Dillon returned to the red carpet as part of Cannes Film Festival To receive an honorary Palme d'Or. “It's like a posthumous tribute, but in my lifetime,” he said tearfully and movingly.

Art stars mourn Dillon

This morning, a number of his fans came to lay some flowers in front of his house.

Actress Claudia Cardinale, who co-starred with Delon in “The Leopard,” said in a message, “The dance party is over. He's off to dance with the stars…”

In 2015, his former partner Mireille Darc said, before the star turned 80, “Alain lives in deep isolation, which he chose, in another world, in the past, with beings he loves very much (…) His weakness has always been present.”

“He is a two-headed eagle…the best and the worst,” Brigitte Bardot said when Delon turned 80.

Dillon prided himself on his charisma.

Delon's good looks were an important point for film directors, while a large number of his films left their mark on the cinematic field, including “Purple Afternoon” by René Clément in 1960, which achieved international fame, “Rocco and His Brothers” in 1960, “The Leopard” in 1963 by the Italian Luchino Visconti, and “The Swimming Pool” in 1969 by Jacques Deray.

In this film, Delon plays the lead role alongside Romy Schneider, with whom he forms an amazing duo.

Criticism and mockery

The most important film director in his career was Jean-Pierre Melville, with whom he worked on two films: “Samurai” in 1967, and “The Red Circle” in 1970, before “A Cop” in 1972.

Thanks to these roles, Delon became a prominent name in cinema, and enhanced his fame through many other thriller films.

Dillon's character has inspired directors from around the world, including Hong Kong's John Woo and American Quentin Tarantino, although Dillon never made it to Hollywood.

From rivalry to rare collaborations in 1970's “Borsalino” and 1998's “Half a Chance,” Delon's career has gone hand in hand with another star, his friend Jean-Paul Belmondo, who wrote in 2016, “He and I are like night and day.”

“You once told me, Alan, that you missed my father. Today, you are the one who will be missed the most,” Belmondo's son Paul wrote on Instagram.

Although Dillon was widely admired, he was often criticized for his personality, which was sometimes described as unfriendly.

Some have criticised him for his support for his friend, far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Before his appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019, feminist activists sparked controversy over his honor.

Dillon was ridiculed for his arrogance, and was known to speak about himself in the third person.

Former Cannes Film Festival president Gilles Jacob said French cinema had lost a “lion” and an “actor with a steely gaze”, considering Delon “designed and controlled everything except his own ending”.

“France has lost its star,” said singer and actress Amanda Lear.