Many French filmmakers are among the world's best, achieving great things and breaking new ground.
And, on the other hand, there are the filmmakers who win awards. I'm sure I was supposed to think it was brilliant, but truthfully I found it to be dreadfully mediocre. After World War II they move with their young son to Russia with the promise of a new life, but instead find themselves trapped in a horrible world of wretchedness, spying, and oppression. So after two hours of this, I think I got the picture. Yet no one ages.