Biography
Éric Rochat (born October 18, 1936, in Paris – died October 5, 2003, in Rio de Janeiro) was a French film producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in erotic cinema.
He began his film career producing documentaries with François Reichenbach, featuring musicians like Arthur Rubinstein in 1969 and Yehudi Menuhin in 1971.
In 1972, Rochat teamed up with Claude Giroux to produce his first feature film, The Killer, starring Jean Gabin as police chief Le Guen. This film also marked Gérard Depardieu's acting debut. The following year, they produced The Dominici Affair, with Jean Gabin portraying Gaston Dominici.
After acquiring the rights to Pauline Réage's novel Story of O from Giroux in 1975, Rochat produced the cult erotic film adaptation directed by Just Jaeckin and starring Corinne Cléry.
In 1976, he produced Sex O'Clock USA, a French documentary by François Reichenbach exploring the concealed sexuality within a highly puritanical American society.
Rochat produced the 1980 film Tusk, directed by surrealist Alejandro Jodorowsky, adapted from Reginald Campbell's novel Poo Lorn of the Elephants.
In 1981, the life of Coco Chanel was depicted in Chanel Solitaire, directed by George Kaczender and starring Marie-France Pisier, Lambert Wilson, and Timothy Dalton.
He wrote, produced, and directed the 1984 sequel Story of O - Chapter 2, featuring Sandra Wey.
In 1987, Rochat wrote and directed the Japanese science fiction film Too Much, produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. This futuristic family film employed Japanese technology to narrate the relationship between a young girl and a robot.
The 1990 film The 5th Monkey, starring Ben Kingsley, was produced by Rochat and adapted from Jacques Zibi's novel; Zibi co-wrote the screenplay with Rochat.
In 1992, Rochat wrote, produced, and directed the ten-hour Story of O - The Series, which achieved significant commercial success on DVD.
In 2002, together with his wife Chrystianne Rochat, he wrote, produced, and co-directed Living O, a television film about a producer seeking to experience the adventures of O's Sir Stephen. The film was shot in Rio de Janeiro.
