His films are well known for emcompassing multiple genres such as comedy (Sitcom - 1998; Potiche - 2010), musical comedy (8 Women - 2002), fantasy (Ricky - 2009), melodramas (Frantz - 2016) or erotic thriller (L'Amant Double - 2017). Ozon's style further oscillates between exuberant camp (again 8 Women - 2002) to grim naturalist aesthetics (again the social drama Ricky - 2009).
Trademarks of Ozon's films are the depiction of complex female characters, of alternative sexualities and more generally of deviations from social and familial norms. Some critics see him as one of the major directors of modern French cinema.
Tropes
- Camp: particularly in Sitcom, 8 Women or Potiche
- Europeans Are Kinky: Possibly. Ozon's movies are often provocative and explicit in their depiction of sexuality and may comfort this cliché to non-French viewers.
- Nuclear Family: Ozon has clearly been inspired by Teorema and standard families in Ozon's movies tend to quickly implose thanks to an external, unconventional character.
- Production Posse: Catherine Deneuve (two movies), Fabrice Luchini (two movies), Charlotte Rampling (four movies), Jérémie Renier (three movies), Ludivine Sagnier (three movies), Marine Vacth (two movies) are a few examples of recurring actors from Ozon's filmography.
- Star-Making Role: Ozon's films were this for now famous actors such as Ludivine Sagnier and Marine Vacth.
- Thematic Series: 8 Women (2002), Potiche (2010) and The Crime Is Mine (2023) form a trilogy of adapted theatre plays about the condition of women.
Selected Filmography :
- Sitcom (1998)
- Water Drops on Burning Rocks (2000) - an adaptation of a play from Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Under the Sand (2000)
- 8 Women (2002)
- Swimming Pool (2003)
- Time to Leave (2004)
- Angel (2007)
- Ricky (2009)
- The Refuge (2010)
- Potiche (2010)
- In the House (2012)
- Young & Beautiful (2013)
- The New Girlfriend (Une nouvelle amie, 2014)
- Frantz (2016)
- L'Amant Double (2017)
- The Crime Is Mine (2023)
