(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)April 12, 2011

(left to Right) Mr. Eric Mayerand Dr. Jean Bodon

(Mahwah, NJ) On April 12, under the auspices of the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Communications Arts Major’s Cinematheque Series, Jean Bodon introduced a screening and led a discussion of his film “Léon Blum: For All Mankind.” Originally produced for broadcast on French television, the film examines the life of the former three-time Prime Minister of France. Blum was the architect of the Socialist Party’s Popular Front government that brought a coalition of Communists, liberals and socialists into power from 1936 to 1937. Deported to the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp in 1943 because of his Jewish origins and socialist politics, he narrowly missed execution prior to being liberated by American troops.

After his release and still more respected than loved, Blum headed France’s provisional government from 1946-1947 and negotiated a U.S. loan to France for post-war reconstruction. Best known by his countrymen for introducing labor reforms, including the 40-hour workweek, increased wages and two-week paid vacations for workers, Blum died in 1950.

Bodon, a native of France, teaches film in the Department of Communication Studies of University of Alabama, Birmingham. He teaches courses in television production, cinema and broadcasting. In 2000, he was honored with the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Bodon has worked as a feature film director and producer and as a director of documentaries and television commercials. His films have been screened at some of the world’s most prominent film presentation organizations including Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress and the Cinémathèque Française. Bodon’s works have been broadcast on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel, E!, TLC and other TV outlets around the world. He is also the author of a book on Charlie Chaplin prefaced by Francois Truffaut and numerous essays on film.

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