
Nicolas Saada - From Cahiers du Cinéma to Acclaimed Director
From Hollywood in Cambridge by Cambridge Chronicles
December 4, 2025 · 1h 20m · Episode 21
About this episode
Nicolas Saada discusses his journey from film critic to acclaimed director and shares insights on storytelling and filmmaking.
Ep 21 - In this episode, we sit down with Nicolas Saada, former editor of Cahiers du Cinéma , screenwriter, and director of acclaimed films like Spy(ies) , Taj Mahal . We explore his transition from film critic to filmmaker, his love for spy thrillers, and why he believes rhythm, silence, and ambiguity matter more than plot. Saada shares how being a cinephile shaped his directing style, the creative freedom of European co-productions, and what young filmmakers often get wrong about storytelling.
People in this episode
Guest: Nicolas Saada
Topics covered
- film criticism
- filmmaking
- spy thrillers
- storytelling
- European co-productions
Keywords
- Nicolas Saada
- Cahiers du Cinéma
- filmmaking
- spy thrillers
- storytelling
- European co-productions
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Cahiers du Cinéma
Books & works: Spy(ies), Taj Mahal
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