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Jalil Lespert

Jalil Lespert

Actor, director and writer, also producer · Born May 11, 1976 (50) · Paris, France

Venice award nominee · Berlinale award nominee

Jalil Lespert is the son of actor Jean Lespert, born in 1942 in Rosny-sous-Bois, and Farida Azi, lawyer of Algerian origin born in 1948 in Palestro (today Lakhdaria), in Algeria. He is the older brother of actor Yaniss Lespert. Pushed by his mother, a lawyer, Jalil Lespert began studying law, but he changed his mind when in 1995, Laurent Cantet noticed him and cast him with his father in the short film Jeux de Plage. Subsequently, the young actor reunited with the director to shoot the TV film Les Sanguinaires in 1997. Two years later, Laurent Cantet offered him a new role, this time in the cinema, in the film Ressources Humaines. Thanks to the role of Franck, he was revealed to the general public and won the César for best male actor in 2001. In 2003, he won the prize for best new actor at the Cabourg Film Festival for his role in Vivre me tue by Jean- Pierre Sinapi. From then on, the actor made a series of films (Pas sur la bouche, Le Promeneur du Champ-de-Mars, Virgil, Le petit Lieutenant…). Jalil Lespert also stands out as a director. In 2007, he moved behind the camera and signed the feature film 24 measures. A few years later, he repeated the experience with the adaptation of the novel Contrary Winds, which received a good reception. In 2014, he co-wrote and directed the biopic dedicated to Yves Saint-Laurent, played by Pierre Niney. In 2015, he joined the team of directors of the series Versailles, broadcast on Canal+, which was a great success. He continued the following year with the production of the feature film Iris in which he also starred. Since then, Jalil Lespert has alternated between his career as a director and that of an actor. In 2020, he starred in La terre des hommes by Noël Marandin and L’Enfant rêve by Raphaël Jacoulot. On the private side, Jalil Lespert has shared the life of Sonia Rolland since 2009. The couple has a daughter, Kahina, born in November 2010. From his union with the actress Bérangère Allaux, the actor has two children, a boy named Aliosha and a daughter, Gena. In October 2018, he announced on social networks that he was separated from Sonia Rolland. On December 15, 2020, he formalized his relationship with the widow of Johnny Hallyday, Laeticia, on Instagram. Jalil Lespert is the ambassador of the NGO Plan International (children's rights in developing countries). In 2016, Jalil Lespert was a member of the jury for the 2016 Dinard British Film Festival.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 11, 1976 (50)
From
Paris, France
Works as
Actor, director and writer, also producer
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 58 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 10% in 30 days

What are Jalil Lespert's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
30%
Bonds
26%
Morality
12%
Power
12%
Survival
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 5 · Dark 9

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 12 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 8 · Intense 9

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 2

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 11

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 9 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Trickster
1 of 7
Threshold guardian
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Melancholic
9
Contemplative
6
Thrilling
3
Bittersweet
4
Other
13

How their films linger

Thought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jalil Lespert's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jalil Lespert's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

58 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Les jours d'après (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Dakar: Race Against the Desert(2025)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dakar Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director · Author

  • I, Jack Wright(2025)

    Show 5 episodes · as Arnaud Tissier

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • GTMax(2024)

    as Elyas

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Niki(2024)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Infinity Pool(2023)

    as Alban Bauer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Falcon Lake(2022)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Una relazione(2021)

    as Mathieu

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Beasts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Sylvain

  • Tralala(2021)

    as Benjamin

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Room 2806: The Accusation(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Dreamchild(2020)

    as François

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Le dindon(2019)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Brother(2019)

    as Igor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Magical Nights(2018)

    as Jean-Claude Bernard

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Escape(2017)

    as Philippe

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Orphan(2016)

    as Darius

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • In the Shadow of Iris(2016)

    Director · Adaptation · Dialogue · as Antoine Doriot

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Versailles(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • First Growth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Charlie Maréchal

  • De guerre lasse(2014)

    as Alex

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Yves Saint Laurent(2014)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Landes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Iban

  • Post Partum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Ulysse

  • One Thousand and One Nights(2012)

    Show as Omar

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Headwinds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Love and Bruises (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Giovanni

  • A Butterfly Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Paul

  • Chez Gino (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Oncle Giovanni, jeune

  • Blackout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Antoine

  • Pigalle, la nuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 8 episodes · as Thomas

  • Pa-ra-da (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Miloud

  • 24 Bars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Writer

  • Tell No One(2006)

    as Gonzales

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Virgil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Virgil

  • The Young Lieutenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Antoine Derouère

  • The Last Mitterrand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Antoine Moreau

  • De retour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Writer

  • Natural Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Lieutenant Luhel

  • Les Amateurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jamel Mezaoui 'J.P.'

  • Not on the Lips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Charley

  • Courts mais Gay : Tome 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Thomas Steiner

  • Oedipus N+1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Thomas Steiner

  • The Idol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Philippe

  • Life Kills Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Daniel Smaïl

  • Inch'Allah dimanche(2001)

    as Bus driver

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Bella ciao (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Oreste

  • A Considerable Disturbance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Laurent

  • Sade(2000)

    as Augustin

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Human Resources(1999)

    as Franck

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Our Happy Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Étienne

  • High Pain Management (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Laurent

  • The Sanguinaires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Stéphane

  • Summer Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Éric

  • Chaos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Actor

  • Les Couloirs aériens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Phénix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 56 titles, 52 of them dated from 1995 to 2025; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

Yves Saint Laurent (2014)

$21M worldwide

Highest rated

Human Resources (1999)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

Dreamchild (2020)

Film career

19952025

Peak 2020 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting43 of 56: 41 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndDirecting13 of 56: 1 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thWriting10 of 56: 0 only writing, 10 with another roleProducing2 of 56: 2 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 56: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

56 titles, 12 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 2 of them.

By decade

1990s5 · acting2000s18 · 16 acting · 2 crew2010s17 · 13 acting · 5 crew2020s12 · 7 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 17% of 18 roles
991419

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

2 major nominations and no wins, 2007–2014.

  1. 2014
    • Berlinale award, nominated · Best Feature Film
  2. 2007
    • Venice award, nominated

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Jalil Lespert's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 24 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director, writer

Dakar: Race Against the Desert (2025)

70th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Tell No One (2006)

Midcredits 94th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jalil Lespert's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles45–82 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 36 · moderateMedian of all films: 33

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Jalil Lespert work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jalil Lespert's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charlotte Le Bon shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles