Olivier Adam


Olivier Adam is a French author and screenwriter. His debut novel Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas was adapted into the eponymous film. He also writes books for young adults, among them La messe anniversaire. Adam won the 2004 Prix Goncourt de la Nouvelle for Passer l'hiver.
He grew up in the Paris suburbs and now lives in Brittany, near Saint-Malo. He participated in the creation of the literary festival Correspondence Manosque. Also a screenwriter, he has participated in writing Don't Worry, I'm Fine and Welcome.

Biography

Olivier Adam was born on 12 July 1974 and grew up in the commune of Draveil with two brothers. His father was a bank clerk. Adam attended Paris Dauphine University, where he studied cultural business management. This was where he met his future partner Karine Reysset. He first became a consultant to advise local authorities in cultural policy and participated in the creation of the Correspondances de Manosque in 1999 with Olivier Chaudenson. He then briefly worked in publishing, where he was a collection director at the Éditions du Rouergue.
His first novel Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas, published in 2000, received critical acclaim. He was selected for the Festival du premier roman in 2001. From his third novel Poids léger in 2002 and the purchase of the rights by Jean-Pierre Améris to make a future movie adaptation, which was released in 2004, he devoted himself entirely to writing. Following a meeting with Geneviève Brisac, he also wrote books for young people and led writing workshops in schools. In 2004, he won the Prix Goncourt de la nouvelle for his collection Passer l'hiver. In 2005, he left Paris to live in Saint-Malo, a town in Brittany, which he mentioned in Des vents contraires in 2009. He returned to the Paris region in 2014.

Works

  • 2000 : Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas, Le Dilettante.
  • 2001 : À l'Ouest, Éditions de l'Olivier.
  • 2002 : Poids léger, Éditions de l'Olivier.
  • 2004 : Douanes, nouvelle parue dans le cadre de Lille 2004 Capitale européenne de la culture.
  • 2004 : Passer l'hiver, Éditions de l'Olivier.
  • 2004 : Sous la pluie, L'École des loisirs.
  • 2005 : Falaises, Éditions de l'Olivier.
  • 2007 : À l'abri de rien, Éditions de l'Olivier.
  • 2009 : Des vents contraires, Éditions de l'Olivier..
  • 2010 : Le Cœur régulier, Éditions de l'Olivier..
  • 2010 : Kyoto Limited Express, with Arnaud Auzouy, Éditions de l'Olivier.
  • 2012 : Les Lisières, Flammarion.
  • 2014 : Peine perdue, Flammarion.
  • 2016 : La Renverse, Flammarion.
  • * 2018 : Chanson de la ville silencieuse, Flammarion.
  • * 2019 : Une partie de badminton, Flammarion
  • * 2020 : Tout peut s'oublier, Flammarion.
  • * 2022 : Dessous les roses, Flammarion, 248 pp.
  • * 2023 : Personne n'a besoin de savoir, Editions Bruno Doucey

Works for youth

  • 2000 : On ira voir la mer, L'École des loisirs, collection « Médium »
  • 2003 : La Messe anniversaire, L'École des loisirs, collection « Médium »
  • 2004 : Sous la pluie, L'École des loisirs, collection « Médium »
  • 2005 : Comme les doigts de la main, L'École des loisirs, collection « Médium »
  • 2005 : Le jour où j'ai cassé le château de Chambord, L'École des loisirs, collection « Mouche », illustré par Bonniol
  • 2006 : La Cinquième saison, collectif, L'École des loisirs, collection « Médium »
  • 2009 : Ni vu ni connu, L'École des loisirs, collection « Neuf »
  • 2010 : Les Boulzoreilles, with Euriel Dumait, Seuil Jeunesse
  • 2010 : Un océan dans la baignoire, with Françoiz Breut, Actes Sud Junior
  • 2011 : Personne ne bouge, éditions École des loisirs, collection Neuf
  • 2011 : Achile et la rivière, with Ilya Green, Actes Sud Junior

Awards

Screen adaptations

Poids Léger was adapted into the film Lightweight by Jean-Pierre Améris, with Nicolas Duvauchelle and Bernard Campan in the lead roles.
À l'abri de rien was adapted for television with Isabelle Carré in the lead role.
Je vais bien, ne t'en fais pas was adapted into the film Don't Worry, I'm Fine directed by Philippe Lioret in 2006. Kad Merad and Mélanie Laurent played the lead roles. The film was nominated for a César in several categories, including Best Adapted Screenplay. Kad Merad won the Cesar for best supporting actor and Mélanie Laurent for Most Promising Actress.
Des vents contraires was adapted into a film of the same name in 2011, starring Audrey Tautou.
The short story "Nouvel An", from the collection Passer l'hiver, was adapted into the film Passer l'hiver directed by Aurélia Barbet.
Le Cœur régulier was adapted into a film in 2016, with Vanja d'Alcantara directing and Isabelle Carré starring.