Claire Simon Boosts Nobel Prize Winner Annie Ernaux in 'Writing Life'

In documentary “Writing Life – Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students” Claire Simon takes on the work of the French Nobel Literature Prize winner – but not the writer herself.

“The point was to tell this story without Annie Ernaux, only using her books,” she explains to Variety after showing the film at Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Film Festival. “I don’t like so-called portraits of artists. I find them very boring, because you never see the art. Here, you can really focus on her sentences.”

Ernaux, who often writes about her own life, is the author of “The Years” and “A Girl’s Story.” “Happening,” detailing her abortion, was adapted into a Venice-winning film directed by Audrey Diwan.

“I was sure young people would respond to her writing,” says Simon, calling i