Personal details
- Birth Date: 1968-05-24
- Birth Location: Paris, France
- Parents: Stéphane Jardin
- Professions: Director, Writer, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frédéric Jardin, straight outta Paris, 1968 baby—he’s the kind of director who doesn’t just make movies, he messes with your head a little. His stuff? Not your usual French cinema fluff. “Sleepless” from 2017, for example, is a wild ride. It’s got that gritty, neon-soaked noir vibe, but with a twist that keeps you guessing. Corrupt cops, desperate dads, the whole “who’s really the bad guy here?” thing—it’s all in there. Jardin doesn’t just throw action at you for kicks. There’s always this undercurrent of panic, like everyone’s one bad decision away from total chaos. Then there’s “Totems” (2021). Spy drama, Cold War style. He brings these shady, double-crossing characters to life, and you end up rooting for people you probably shouldn’t. There’s espionage, secrets, and a whole lot of 70s mustaches, honestly. The tension just simmers—nobody trusts anybody, and you’re never totally sure what’s coming next. Jardin’s got a knack for making you sweat right along with his characters. Now, “Titane” honestly kind of breaks your brain. It’s wild, messy, and totally unapologetic—body horror, family drama, and, yeah, a lot of metal. Jardin doesn’t hold your hand through it, either. He’s more like, “Here’s the madness, deal with it.” The dude’s not afraid to push boundaries and make his audience squirm a little. So if you’re into movies that don’t play it safe and sort of live in the dark corners of your mind, Jardin’s got you covered.
Pascal Jardin, a pretty big name in French cinema back in the day, is the dad here—his scripts had a knack for mixing wit and a bit of bite. And get this, talent clearly runs in the family. Alexandre Jardin, the brother, wears both the writer and director hats, which isn’t exactly a common combo. So you end up with this wild mix of perspectives in their work—one’s got the classic screenwriting chops, the other’s out there breaking the rules and making his own lane. Growing up in that household must’ve been something else: probably a lot of late-night debates about stories, characters, and whatever crazy ideas they could cook up next. It’s not just about legacy; you can feel a bit of creative rivalry, that push to top the last thing and make something fresh. Not every family’s dinner table sounds like a brainstorming session for the next big French film, but for the Jardins? Pretty much par for the course.
May 24, 1968
Konidela Ram Charan
Paris, France
Stéphane Jardin and Surekha
57 years old