According to reports from French media, the well-known director and screenwriter Laurent Tirard, who had been battling a persistent illness for many years, ultimately succumbed to his health struggles and passed away in Paris on September 5 at the age of 57. His funeral will be held on September 11 at the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris.

Laurent Tirard

Having worked in the film industry for 20 years, Laurent Tirard directed 15 films, with his most notable works being the adaptations of the popular French comic series "Nicholas" in the films "Les Kids Are All Right" and "The Holidays of Nicolas," the former of which was also released in mainland China.

Poster for "Les Kids Are All Right"

Born on February 18, 1967, in the northern French province of Pas-de-Calais, Laurent Tirard had a passion for films from a young age, particularly Hollywood productions represented by the "Star Wars" series. This passion led him to study film production at New York University, after which he joined Warner Bros. as a junior script reader. However, he did not remain in that role for long. By chance, he became a film journalist for the renowned French magazine "Studio," stationed in Hollywood, and spent years interviewing notable directors like Woody Allen, David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, and the Coen brothers, further solidifying his aspiration to become a director.

In 2004, Laurent Tirard made his official entry into the French film scene with his self-written and directed debut feature "Lies and Betrayal." Over the following years, he released films such as "Molière" and "Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques," but his most remarkable success came with the release of "Les Kids Are All Right" in 2009. He personally adapted the film, capitalizing on the popularity of the original comic and adhering to traditional French comedic film styles, which resulted in a fervent reception from French audiences, making it the highest-grossing French film of 2009. After its introduction to Chinese cinemas in 2013, although it was "late" to appear, it still received high praise from many viewers.

Unfortunately, in 2012, Laurent Tirard was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a bone marrow transplant, which led to complications known as graft-versus-host disease, affecting his skin, lungs, liver, and intestines. Over the past decade, Laurent Tirard continued to fight his illness while making films, bringing audiences several excellent works, including the sequel to "Les Kids Are All Right," titled "The Holidays of Nicolas."