Roger Viry-Babel, saw himself as an entertainer, academic and French filmmaker. Pioneer of audiovisual teaching at the University of Nancy II and at its European film institute, he spent his life bringing together his love of teaching, cinema and the history of his region.
Biography
Roger Viry-Babel was born on 19 January 1945 in Mirecourt in the French Vosges. His childhood was spent in Nancy in the University residences where his adoptive father worked as director. He attended the Lycée Henri-Poincaré where he obtained his baccalaureate. He then studied French literature where he focused on Albert Camus. During his university studies, in 1965, he became Vice-president of the student paper "L'Echo des Lettres" where he published his first film reviews. In 1969, he married Francoise Charmoillaux and their marriage brought four children: Jean, Gérard, Francois and Anne.
Roger Viry-Babel
In 1970, Roger became assistant lecturer in French literature at the UER Lettre campus of the Université de Nancy II. In this setting, under the guidance of Guy Borelli, he organised the first colloquium on teaching and cinema and undertook a research paper examining Jean Renoir’s The Grand Illusion. From then onward he built his cinematographic culture and a solid reputation in regional film where he honed his craft alongside the film director Michel Guillet. This led to his being hired as director of Radio France Nancy. During his tenure he handed the airways to several young local authors including Lefred-Thouron and Francis Kuntz. During this time, alongside Noël Nel, he established university degrees in film followed by a DEA ). After a thesis entitled “The Women of Jean Renoir” and a book entitled “Jean Renoir, the game and the rules” published by Denoël, he took a position as university professor in 1987. In 1982, at 42, Roger tested the political waters as local councillor for the socialist party in Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy. In 1992 he became deputy grand master of the French Free Masonry. His work did not prevent him from publishing. In 1993, he was awarded the Prix de l'Académie des Beaux-Arts – for the book written in partnership with Daniel Corinaud entitled "Travelling du rail". He then became associate correspondent for the Académie de Stanislas. In 1994, taking advantage of the University 2000 action plan and in partnership with Noël Nel et Eric Schmulevitch, Roger helped establish the Université de Nancy II’s Institut Européen du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel. At the same time as his academic work, Roger produced numerous television programmes including the show “Continentals” in 1995 on FR3 and the show “Je me souviens in 1996. In 1996 he co-founded “Ere productions”. In 2003, he was awarded the Jacques Rosenberg Award for the film directed in partnership with Régis Latouche “Francais pour 42 sous”. His career was honoured in 2005 through his award of the title Chevalier des Arts et Lettres. He died in Nancy on 15 May 2006.
