Editing Jacques Brel (section)

==Film career==
In 1967 Brel began his film career, appearing in [[André Cayatte]]'s ''[[Les risques du métier]]'' (Risky business), co-starring [[Emmanuelle Riva]], Jacques Harden, and Nadine Alari. Brel also produced the soundtrack with [[François Rauber]]. The film tells the story of a teenage girl who accuses her primary schoolteacher, Jean Doucet (Brel), of trying to rape her. The police and the mayor investigate, but Doucet denies the charges. Two other students come forward to reveal more of Doucet's misconduct—one confessing to be his mistress. Doucet faces trial and hard labour if convicted. The film was released on 21 December 1967. Film critics praised Brel's performance.<ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-les-risques"/>

In 1968 Brel appeared in his second film, {{ill|La Bande à Bonnot (film)|fr|lt=''La Bande à Bonnot''}} (The Bonnot Gang), directed by Philippe Fourastié and co-starring [[Annie Girardot]] and [[Bruno Cremer]]. Once again, Brel produced the soundtrack with [[François Rauber]]. The story is set in [[History of Paris#The ''Belle Époque''|1911 Paris]]. Raymond-la-science (Brel), an anarchist, is released from prison after serving a sentence for spreading agitation among his co-workers. He meets up with his friends who live together with their families in the villa of their political leader. They get involved with the notorious [[Bonnot Gang]]—gangsters who revolt against society by robbing, stealing, and killing. The film was released on 30 October 1968.<ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-la-bande"/>

In 1969 Brel appeared in his third film, ''[[Mon oncle Benjamin]]'' (My uncle Benjamin), directed by [[Édouard Molinaro]] and co-starring [[Claude Jade]] and [[Bernard Blier]]. He also produced the soundtrack. The film is a period piece, set in 1750 during the reign of [[Louis XV of France|Louis XV]]. Benjamin (Brel) is a country doctor in love with the beautiful innkeeper's daughter, Manette, but she refuses his advances until he produces a marriage contract. After suffering a humiliating practical joke and being condemned to prison, Benjamin escapes with Manette, who realises she prefers happiness to a marriage contract after all. The film was released on 28 November 1969.<ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-mon-oncle"/>

In 1970 Brel appeared in his fourth feature film, {{ill|Mont-Dragon|fr|italics=y}}, directed by Jean Valère and co-starring François Prévost, Paul le Person, and [[Catherine Rouvel]], with a screen play by [[Robert Margerit]]. The story involves a soldier, Georges Dormond (Brel), who seduces Germaine de Boismesnil and is subsequently driven out of the army by one of Germaine's friends who is a colonel. After Germaine's husband dies, Dormond returns to the widow's castle seeking revenge. After seducing Pierrette the maid, he reminds Germaine of their past love affair and arranges a meeting with the widow, during which he undresses her, humiliates her, and then leaves. The orphan Marthe, who witnesses the scene, throws herself at Gaston, the colonel's orderly, to avenge her mother. Georges ridicules their feelings and forces Germaine to reveal her attachment to Pierrette, thereby causing a scandal. The film was released on 16 December 1970.<ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-mont-dragon"/>

[[File:Liesbeth List krijgt gouden LP voor LL zingt J Brel op kasteel Groeneveld, Br, Bestanddeelnr 925-0800.jpg|thumb|left|Jacques Brel, 1971]]
In 1971 Brel appeared in his fifth feature film, ''[[Franz (1971 film)|Franz]]'', the first film he directed. Brel also co-wrote the screenplay with [[Paul Andréota]] and produced the soundtrack with François Rauber. The film co-starred [[Barbara (singer)|Barbara]], Danièle Evenou, Fernand Fabre, Serge Sauvions, Louis Navarre, Jacques Provins, and François Cadet. The film is about Léon (Brel) and Léonie (Barbara), who meet in a convalescent home for state employees in Blankenberge: Catherine (Danièle Evenou) is Léonie's friend. Léonie is shy and reserved while Catherine is loose and flirtatious. Most men are attracted to her vitality, but Léon is the exception. Léonie is intrigued by Léon's secretive personality. She gradually becomes attracted to his clumsy behaviour and they fall in love. The other residents, amused by this unlikely love affair, decide to obstruct their relationship, which drives Léon to suicide. The film was released on 2 February 1972, and although praised by the critics, it was not a commercial success.<ref name="rfi"/><ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-franz"/>

In 1971 Brel appeared in his sixth feature film, ''[[Law Breakers|Les Assassins de l'ordre]]'' (Law breakers), directed by [[Marcel Carné]] and co-starring [[Paola Pitagora]], [[Catherine Rouvel]], and [[Charles Denner]]. Brel plays Bernard Level, a provincial judge, who presides over a delicate case. A man who was arrested for a minor crime died during police questioning. When Level decides to prosecute the policemen and initiates an investigation, he receives threats and intimidation from those wanting to stop the investigation. The film was released on 7 May 1971.<ref name="rfi"/><ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-les-assassins"/>

In 1972 Brel appeared in his seventh feature film, ''[[L'aventure, c'est l'aventure]]'' (The adventure is the adventure), directed by [[Claude Lelouch]]. The story follows five crooks who decide to switch from bank robbery to political kidnapping. Among their first hostages is singer Johnny Hallyday. The film was released 4 May 1972, and became a huge box-office smash. While filming ''L'aventure, c'est l'aventure'' on location in the Caribbean, Brel met and fell in love with a young actress and dancer by the name of {{ill|Maddly Bamy|fr||de}}. Brel would spend the final years of his life with her.<ref name="rfi"/><ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-laventure"/>

In 1972 Brel appeared in his eighth feature film, ''[[The Bar at the Crossing|Le Bar de la fourche]]'' (The bar at the crossing), directed by [[Alain Levent]] and co-starring [[Rosy Varte]] and [[Isabelle Huppert]]. Brel plays Vincent Van Horst, a hard-drinking ''bon vivant'' who loves his freedom and his women. In 1916 he leaves Europe, which is torn apart by the war, and moves to Canada, intending to meet up with Maria, the only woman he ever loved. On the way to Canada, he meets a young boy who dreams about fighting in the European war. When Vincent arrives at the Bar de la Fourche, managed by Maria, he finds her looking older. He finds consolation in another woman, Annie, who looks down on him and drives Vincent and Olivier to fight a duel against each other. The film was released on 23 August 1972.<ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-le-bar"/>

In 1973 Brel appeared in his ninth feature film, ''[[Le Far West]]'', his second directorial effort. The film co-starred Gabriel Jabbour, Danielle Evenou, and Arlette Lindon. The story is about Jacques, a 40-year-old citizen of Brussels, who meets the fakir Abracadabra who, before dying, gives him a special power. Jacques meets Gabriel, a generous man, who dresses up as [[Davy Crockett]], and who follows Jacques without asking questions. The two companions and other new friends set out to conquer [[American frontier|the Wild West]], their childhood—just as [[Voltaire]] sought [[El Dorado]], and Saint-Exupéry the unknown planet. The Far West they seek cannot be found, because it is an imaginary place, a piece of happiness buried in our hearts. The film was released on 15 May 1973.<ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-le-far"/>

In 1973 Brel appeared in his tenth and final feature film, ''[[L'emmerdeur]]'' (The troublemaker), directed by [[Édouard Molinaro]] and co-starred [[Lino Ventura]], [[Caroline Cellier]], and [[Jean-Pierre Darras]]. Jacques Brel and François Rauber produced the soundtrack. The story is about a contract killer, Ralph Milan, who works for the Mafia. He is paid to kill Louis Randoni, whose testimony in various trials could harm the organisation. Ralph waits for his prey in his hotel room, but is interrupted by his comical neighbour, François Pignon (Brel). The film was released on 20 September 1973.<ref name="jacquesbrel6"/><ref name="jb-lemmerdeur"/>