Carole Hélène Marthe Andrée Achache (née Salomon-Lange; 31 May 1952 – 1 March 2016) was a French writer, photographer and actress. She was the daughter of French writer Monique Lange and the mother of French-Moroccan film director Mona Achache. She appeared in films such as The Gypsy (1975), Special Section (1975), Lumière (1976), Mr. Klein (1976), Le Juge Fayard dit Le Shériff (1977), and Death of a Corrupt Man (1977) under the name Carole Lange. She later worked as a still photographer in the films Other People's Money (1978), A Week's Vacation (1980), The Trout (1982), and Un soir au club (2009). As an author, Achache published five books.
Achache died in Paris on 1 March 2016 at the age of 63. Her death was ruled as suicide by hanging.
Early life Achache was born in Paris, France on 31 May 1952. She was the daughter of French writer Monique Lange and of French science historian Jean-Jacques Salomon, who left her mother when Achache was a child. Her mother was born Jewish and later converted to Catholicism. Her maternal grandfather, Robert Lange, was a French journalist and politician. American writer William Faulkner was her godfather. Spanish writer Juan Goytisolo was her step-father.
When Achache was a child, she was abused by French writer Jean Genet, who was a friend of her mother. The abuse led her to drug use and prostitution between Paris and New York in the 1970s.
Career Film and television In the 1970s and early 1980s, Achache worked as an actress under the name Carole Lange in films such as Guy Gilles's Earth Light (1970), José Giovanni's The Gypsy (1975), Costa-Gavras's Special Section (1975), Jeanne Moreau's Lumière (1976), Joseph Losey's Mr. Klein (1976), Claude Sautet's Mado (1976), Yves Boisset's Le Juge Fayard dit Le Shériff (1977), Jacques Rouffio's Violette & François (1977), Georges Lautner's Death of a Corrupt Man (1977), and Laurent Heynemann's The Bit Between the Teeth (1979). And on the television series (1979), and (1980).
She also worked as a still photographer in films such as Other People's Money (1978) by Christian de Chalonge, A Week's Vacation (1980) by Bertrand Tavernier, The Trout (1982) by Joseph Losey, and Un soir au club (2009) by Jean Achache.
Books In 2002, Achache published her first novel, (English: Cortés' Indian Woman), about La Malinche, a Nahua woman who accompanied Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés throughout his conquest of the Aztec Empire and later became his mistress.
Her second novel, (English: Trouville Beach), was published in 2008 and follows the story of the painting of the same name by Jacques Mauny, which belonged to Achache's family and was stolen by the Nazis around 1943.
In 2011, Achache published (English: Daughter of), about her relationship with her mother.
Achache also published two photography books, (English: Work in Progress) in 2004, and (English: Flowers) in 2006.
Personal life Achache was married to French director and screenwriter Jean Achache, with whom she had two children, a son and a daughter, film director Mona Achache, born on 18 March 1981.
Death Achache died in Paris on 1 March 2016 at the age of 63. Her death was ruled as suicide by hanging.
In popular culture In 2023, Achache was portrayed by French actress Marion Cotillard in the biographical docudrama Little Girl Blue, directed by her daughter, Mona Achache.
Bibliography Novels (2002) (2008) (2011)
Photography (2004) (2006)
Filmography Actress Feature films Year Title Role Notes 1970 Earth Light Jeanneas Carole Lange1975 The Gypsy Special Section1976 Lumière Carole Mr. Klein Mado 1977 Le Juge Fayard dit Le Shériff Cathy Davoust Violette & François Death of a Corrupt Man The locker room girl 1979The Bit Between the Teeth The employee Chazerand
Television Year Title Role Notes 1979 Marie TV Series; 6 episodes (as Carole Lange) 1980 Chip costumer TV Series; 1 episode (as Carole Lange)
Still photographer Year Title Notes 1978 Other People's Money Directed by Christian de Chalonge (as Carole Lange) 1980 A Week's Vacation Directed by Bertrand Tavernier (as Carole Lange) 1982 The Trout Directed by Joseph Losey (as Carole Lange) 2009 Un soir au club Directed by Jean Achache
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