When Americans shoot movies they aim at the entire planet. When the French make movies, they aim at Paris.

Biography
Annaud was born in Juvisy-sur-Orge Essonne. He was educated at the technical school in Vaugirard and in 1964 graduated from the prestigious film school Institut des Hautes Études Cinématographiques (IDHEC) in Paris. He supposedly felt personally intrigued by the project among other things because of a lifelong fascination with medieval churches and a great familiarity with Latin and Greek.

Jean-Jacques Annaud (born 1 October 1943) is a French film director film producer and screenwriter.