Jan Kounen

Director

May 2, 1964 (62 years)

Utrecht, Netherlands

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jan Kounen (born 2 May 1964, Utrecht, Netherlands) is a Dutch-born French film director and producer. In France, he is mostly known for his films Dobermann (1997), Blueberry, l'experience secrete (2004) and 99 francs (2007). Outside of France, he is rather known for his interest in Shipibo-Conibo culture and shamanism, with which he became familiar during his trips to Mexico and Peru, and for some music videos. Most noticeable are the four videos he did fo…

Filmography

6.0

The Shrinking Man

Paul, is an ordinary man who divides his life between his shipbuilding company, his wife Elise and their daughter Mia. During a sea trip, Paul finds himself confronted with a strange, unexplained meteorological phenomenon. From then on, Paul shrinks inexorably, without science being able to explain why or be of any help to him. When, by accident, he finds himself a prisoner in his own cellar, and while he is only a few centimeters tall, he will have to fight to survive in this banal environment that has become perilous. During this experience, Paul will find himself confronted with himself, with his humanity, and will try to answer the great questions of existence.

4.8

Renegade

U.S Marshal Mike Donovan has dark memories of the death of his first love. He keeps peace between the Americans and the natives who had temporarily adopted and taken care of him. The evil actions of a white sorcerer lead him to confront the villain in the Sacred Mountains, and, through shamanic rituals conquer his fears and uncover a suppressed memory he would much rather deny.

6.5

Dobermann

The charismatic criminal Dobermann, who got his first gun when he was christened, leads a gang of brutal robbers. After a complex and brutal bank robbery, they are being hunted by the Paris police. The hunt is led by the sadistic cop Christini, who only has one goal: to catch Dobermann at any cost.

6.7

99 Francs

Paris, France, 2001. Octave Parango, a young advertiser working at the Ross & Witchcraft advertising agency, lives a suicidal existence, ruled by cynicism, irresponsibility and debauchery. The obstacles he will encounter in developing a campaign for a new yogurt brand will force him to face the meaning of his work and the way he manages his relationship with those who orbit around his egotistic lifestyle.

6.3

Flight of the Storks

Jonathan, a young academic teams up with Max, an amateur ornithologist, to follow storks on their migration from Switzerland to Africa. When Max is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Jonathan decides to make the trip alone. Following the route of the birds, Jonathan discovers dark secrets surrounding Max’s death. A mesmeric thriller from literary luminary Jean-Cristophe Grange.

6.1

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

Paris 1913. Coco Chanel is infatuated with the rich and handsome Boy Capel, but she is also compelled by her work. Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is about to be performed. The revolutionary dissonances of Igor's work parallel Coco's radical ideas. She wants to democratize women's fashion; he wants to redefine musical taste. Coco attends the scandalous first performance of The Rite in a chic white dress. The music and ballet are criticized as too modern, too foreign. Coco is moved but Igor is inconsolable.

5.3

8

8 shorts centered around 8 themes directed by 8 famous film directors involved and sharing their opinion on progress, on the set-backs and the challenges our planet faces today.

5.5

My Cousin

Pierre is the highly successful CEO of a large family-owned company. Before signing the deal of the century, he has to settle one last formality: obtain the signature of his cousin Adrien who owns 50% of his firm. This sweet, idealistic dreamer, who makes one blunder after another, is so happy to see Pierre again that he wants to spend time with him and delay the moment of signing. So Pierre has no choice but to take his cousin with him on a turbulent business trip during which his patience will be put to the test.

5.0

The Show

No description available

6.0

Cinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition)

A collection of short films by 16 European directors.

5.8

Darshan - The Embrance

Amma, one of India's most famous "Mahatmas" or spiritual guides, is known internationally for her charitable donations, fight for peace, and work with illiteracy. In 2002, she won the Gandhi King Prize for her work, joining a prestigious group of winners that include, Nelson Mandela and Khofi Annan. Here is a chronicle of her journey throughout India, traveling with her inner circle to visit with her disciples.

9.0

The Journey: Mother Ocean

Famous and talented feature film director and scriptwriter Jan Kounen plunges the viewer into a unique and thrilling adventure of pregnancy, birth, and baby’s first swim, alongside marine creatures. Leina Sato is a Japanese professional free diver and is expecting her first child. Her partner, Jean-Marie Ghislain is a famous underwater photographer. They share a passion for the oceans, and believe that a strong bond between a mother-to-be and cetaceans exists. And they want to prove it. Leina will be multiplying her encounters with whales, dolphins and other underwater mammals. Mother Ocean is the incredible encounter between humans and under water species, around the universal question of giving birth and the power of creating life.

6.9

Vibroboy

An old aztec statue brought back from Mexico to France by a transvestite and an acrobat suddenly releases El Vibro, a.k.a. Vibroboy, a superhero endowed with a phallic driller...

7.0

Other Worlds

The secrets about unlocking the mysteries of consciousness by plant-drugs. The related chances and risks involved in this shamanism. While filming Blueberry, the Secret Experience, Jan Kounen met the Shipibo healers of the Peruvian Amazon and discovered their sacred plant: Ayahuasca, the spirit vine. Deeply affected by this experience, he decided to return to Peru to shoot a documentary on the plant and the medicinal rites of the shamans. To this end, he filmed the natives but also met neurologists, philosophers, artists, and chemists working on this subject. He notably interviewed Jean Giraud, the illustrator of Blueberry, and Kary Mullis, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. More than a traditional documentary, the film is an invitation to travel, a half-open door to another world or another perception of reality. The secrets about unlocking the mysteries of consciousness by plant-drugs. The related chances and risks involved in this shamanism.

N/A

Jan Kounen - Intégrale courts métrages

All shorts films of director Jan Kounen on DVD.

6.8

The Last Little Red Riding Hood

A old red riding hood, badly crippled after killing a monster many years ago, comes up with a sinister plan to dance again.

N/A

Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey

What happens when indigenous healing rituals and immersive technology converge? Inspired by his own experiences with ayahuasca, a plant infusion traditionally used in healing and self-discovery ceremonies by peoples of the Amazon, director Jan Kounen embarks on a spiritual, visual journey. He attempts to capture the physical and hallucinatory states of such a ceremony on film.

7.5

Vape Wave

A retrospective on the history of the tobacco industry, and how vaping can, and will, save lives.

8.0

L'âge de plastic

A short film by Jan Kounen.

6.5

Capitaine X

You wake up in a warehouse where a bunch of degenerates is willing to execute you.