Along with Jean-Luc Godard, Francois Truffaut, Claude Chabrol and Jacques Rivette, all former film critics, he helped pioneer an informal film movement that turned traditional notions of narrative and style on their head.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

But France's president, Jacques Chirac, has stridently refused to back away from his candidate, Jean-Claude Trichet, governor of the Bank of France.

ECONOMIST: Fanfare for the euro | The