Jacques Panijel

Jacques Panijel was a multifaceted figure in the realms of science, literature, and cinema. An immunologist and biologist by profession, he also made significant contributions as a filmmaker and anti-colonial activist. His cinematic works include the 1961 film 'La Peau et les Os,' co-directed with Jean-Paul Sassy, which won the Jean Vigo Prize, and the 1957 film 'Le Balladin du monde occidental.' Panijel is best remembered for his clandestine documentary 'October in Paris,' which captured the Algerian demonstration of October 17, 1961. The film faced censorship and was screened underground for years before gaining official approval in 1973. Beyond cinema, Panijel was deeply involved in activism, co-founding the Maurice Audin Committee to investigate the disappearance of a mathematics assistant during the Battle of Algiers and signing the manifesto of 121 intellectuals opposing the Algerian War. He also contributed to the Resistance during World War II and was honored with several prestigious awards for his service. In addition to his scientific career at the CNRS and Pasteur Institute, Panijel authored novels and plays, leaving a lasting legacy in multiple fields. He passed away on September 12, 2010, in Paris.

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