#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
The lead actor in A Summer's Tale (1996) is Melvil Poupaud. He plays the protagonist, Gaspard, a quiet mathematics graduate and musician on holiday in Dinard.
Since his breakout as a child actor in the early 1980s, Poupaud has become one of the most prolific and recognizable faces in French cinema, often appearing in international and English-language productions. Here is a comprehensive list of his other films, categorized by the most likely places you may have seen him.
1. English-Language and International Productions
If you have a feeling you've seen him before in a non-French film, it was likely one of these:
- The Lover (1992): In this Jean-Jacques Annaud classic, he played the Younger Brother of the protagonist.
- Le Divorce (2003): He played Charles-Henri de Persand, the unfaithful husband of Naomi Watts' character.
- Broken English (2007): He starred as Julien, the romantic lead opposite Parker Posey.
- Speed Racer (2008): In the Wachowskis' film, he played Johnny "Goodboy" Jones, the French commentator.
- 44 Inch Chest (2009): He appeared as the character Loverboy in this British gangster film starring Ray Winstone and Ian McShane.
- By the Sea (2015): He played François, a neighbor to the characters played by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (who also directed).
- Coup de Chance (2023): He starred as Jean de Fournier in Woody Allen's recent French-language thriller.
2. Major Collaborations with Renowned Directors
Poupaud is a favorite of several major "auteur" directors. You may recognize him from:
- Xavier Dolan Films: He played the titular lead in Laurence Anyways (2012), a transgender woman transitioning over a decade.
- François Ozon Films: He gave a critically acclaimed performance as Romain, a photographer with terminal cancer, in Time to Leave (2005). He also appeared in Hideaway (2009), By the Grace of God (2018) as Alexandre Guérin, and Summer of 85 (2020).
- Arnaud Desplechin Films: He played Ivan in the acclaimed family drama A Christmas Tale (2008) and starred in Brother and Sister (2022).
- Raoul Ruiz Films: He was Ruiz's muse, starting as a child in City of Pirates (1983) and later appearing in Treasure Island (1986), Three Lives and Only One Death (1996), Genealogies of a Crime (1997), Time Regained (1999), and Mysteries of Lisbon (2010).
3. Recent and Notable French Films
- Jeanne du Barry (2023): He played Count Jean-Baptiste du Barry (the pimp/husband of Jeanne) opposite Johnny Depp.
- One Fine Morning (2022): He played Clément, the romantic interest of Léa Seydoux's character.
- In Bed with Victoria (2016): As Vincent Kossarski.
- The Great Game (2015): Starring as Pierre Blum.
- Fidelio: Alice's Odyssey (2014): As Gaël.
- Lines of Wellington (2012): As Marshal Masséna.
- Lucky Luke (2009): He played Jesse James in this comedy western.
- Towards Zero (2007): A mystery film where he played Guillaume Neuville.
4. Early Career and Early 2000s
- Normal People Are Nothing Exceptional (1993): He received a César nomination for this role.
- The 15 Year Old Girl (1989): His first César nomination for Most Promising Actor.
- Feelings (2003): As François.
- Queens for a Day (2001): As Ben.
Television Note
If you watch French TV, you may also recognize him as the lead in the sci-fi comedy series OVNI(s) (UFOs) (2021–2022), where he plays Didier Mathure, or the thriller Insoupçonnable (2018), the French remake of The Fall.
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Melvil Poupaud confirmed as lead actor playing Gaspard, a mathematics graduate and musician in A Summer's Tale (1996), set in Dinard
[2] Poupaud debuted at age 10 in City of Pirates (1983) and has extensive French and international filmography
[3] The character is more accurately credited as 'The Younger Brother - Paul' with Paul being the character name, not just 'Younger Brother'
[4] Confirmed he played Charles-Henri de Persand in Le Divorce (2003) opposite Naomi Watts
[5] Listed in multiple filmographies as playing Julien opposite Parker Posey in Broken English (2007)
[6] He played Johnny 'Goodboy' Jones, described as 'a race commentator' - not specifically identified as 'the French commentator'
[7] Multiple sources list him as playing Loverboy in 44 Inch Chest (2009)
[8] Confirmed he played François in By the Sea (2015), directed by and starring Angelina Jolie alongside Brad Pitt
[9] Film confirmed to exist, character name not independently verified in search results
[10] Confirmed he played the title role Laurence in Xavier Dolan's Laurence Anyways (2012)
[11] Confirmed multiple François Ozon collaborations including Time to Leave (2005), By the Grace of God (2018), and Summer of 85 (2020)
[12] Listed in filmographies as appearing in Desplechin's A Christmas Tale (2008) and Brother and Sister (2022)
[13] Wikipedia confirms he appeared in nine Raoul Ruiz films after debuting in City of Pirates (1983) at age 10
[14] Character name is Count Guillaume du Barry, NOT Jean-Baptiste du Barry. Multiple sources consistently identify Guillaume as the character name.
[15] Confirmed he played Clément opposite Léa Seydoux in One Fine Morning (2022)
[16] Listed in filmographies as appearing in In Bed with Victoria (2016)
[17] Listed in filmographies as appearing in The Great Game (2015)
[18] Listed in filmographies as appearing in Fidelio: Alice's Odyssey (2014)
[19] Listed in filmographies as appearing in Lines of Wellington (2012)
[20] Listed in filmographies as appearing in Lucky Luke (2009)
[21] Listed in filmographies as appearing in Towards Zero (2007)
[22] Confirmed César Award nomination for Most Promising Actor for Normal People Are Nothing Exceptional (1993)
[23] Confirmed César Award nomination for Most Promising Actor for The 15 Year Old Girl (1989)
[24] Listed in filmographies as appearing in Feelings (2003)
[25] Listed in filmographies as appearing in Queens for a Day (2001)
[26] Referenced in multiple sources as starring in OVNI(s) series (2021-2022)
The lead actor in *A Summer's Tale* (1996) is **Melvil Poupaud**. He plays the protagonist, Gaspard, a quiet mathematics graduate and musician on holiday in Dinard.
Since his breakout as a child actor in the early 1980s, Poupaud has become one of the most prolific and recognizable faces in French cinema, often appearing in international and English-language productions. Here is a comprehensive list of his other films, categorized by the most likely places you may have seen him.
### 1. English-Language and International Productions
If you have a feeling you've seen him before in a non-French film, it was likely one of these:
* **The Lover (1992):** In this Jean-Jacques Annaud classic, he played the **Younger Brother** of the protagonist.
* **Le Divorce (2003):** He played **Charles-Henri de Persand**, the unfaithful husband of Naomi Watts' character.
* **Broken English (2007):** He starred as **Julien**, the romantic lead opposite Parker Posey.
* **Speed Racer (2008):** In the Wachowskis' film, he played **Johnny "Goodboy" Jones**, the French commentator.
* **44 Inch Chest (2009):** He appeared as the character **Loverboy** in this British gangster film starring Ray Winstone and Ian McShane.
* **By the Sea (2015):** He played **François**, a neighbor to the characters played by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (who also directed).
* **Coup de Chance (2023):** He starred as **Jean de Fournier** in Woody Allen's recent French-language thriller.
### 2. Major Collaborations with Renowned Directors
Poupaud is a favorite of several major "auteur" directors. You may recognize him from:
* **Xavier Dolan Films:** He played the titular lead in **Laurence Anyways (2012)**, a transgender woman transitioning over a decade.
* **François Ozon Films:** He gave a critically acclaimed performance as **Romain**, a photographer with terminal cancer, in **Time to Leave (2005)**. He also appeared in **Hideaway (2009)**, **By the Grace of God (2018)** as Alexandre Guérin, and **Summer of 85 (2020)**.
* **Arnaud Desplechin Films:** He played **Ivan** in the acclaimed family drama **A Christmas Tale (2008)** and starred in **Brother and Sister (2022)**.
* **Raoul Ruiz Films:** He was Ruiz's muse, starting as a child in **City of Pirates (1983)** and later appearing in **Treasure Island (1986)**, **Three Lives and Only One Death (1996)**, **Genealogies of a Crime (1997)**, **Time Regained (1999)**, and **Mysteries of Lisbon (2010)**.
### 3. Recent and Notable French Films
* **Jeanne du Barry (2023):** He played **Count Jean-Baptiste du Barry** (the pimp/husband of Jeanne) opposite Johnny Depp.
* **One Fine Morning (2022):** He played **Clément**, the romantic interest of Léa Seydoux's character.
* **In Bed with Victoria (2016):** As **Vincent Kossarski**.
* **The Great Game (2015):** Starring as **Pierre Blum**.
* **Fidelio: Alice's Odyssey (2014):** As **Gaël**.
* **Lines of Wellington (2012):** As **Marshal Masséna**.
* **Lucky Luke (2009):** He played **Jesse James** in this comedy western.
* **Towards Zero (2007):** A mystery film where he played **Guillaume Neuville**.
### 4. Early Career and Early 2000s
* **Normal People Are Nothing Exceptional (1993):** He received a César nomination for this role.
* **The 15 Year Old Girl (1989):** His first César nomination for Most Promising Actor.
* **Feelings (2003):** As **François**.
* **Queens for a Day (2001):** As **Ben**.
### Television Note
If you watch French TV, you may also recognize him as the lead in the sci-fi comedy series **OVNI(s) (UFOs)** (2021–2022), where he plays **Didier Mathure**, or the thriller **Insoupçonnable** (2018), the French remake of *The Fall*.
(Note: This summary was generated by Gemini 3.0 Flash + Search)