RenĂ© ClĂ©ment (March 18, 1913, Bordeaux â March 17, 1996, Monte Carlo, Monaco) was a French film director and screenwriter. ClĂ©ment studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts where he developed an interest in filmmaking. In 1936, he directed his first film, a 20 minute short written and featuring Jacques Tati. ClĂ©ment spent the latter part of the 1930s making documentaries in parts of the Middle East and Africa. In