Raoul Coutard was born on September 16, 1924 in Paris, France. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Hoa Binh (1970), Alphaville (1965) and Z (1969). He died on November 8, 2016 in Labenne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.
Worked on several classic films of the French New Wave, especially noted for his trademark use of hand-held cameras and natural lighting.
Served in the Indochina War as part of the French Military Information Service. He subsequently lived in Vietnam for 11 years, working freelance as a civilian photographer, often employed by such publications as Time and Paris-Match.