**Abel Gance (1889-1981)** was an innovative French director, screenwriter, and actor, a central figure in silent cinema and one of the greatest pioneers of the seventh art. His career was defined by epic ambition and daring technical experimentation.

Among his most significant works are *J'accuse!* (1919), a powerful anti-war manifesto, and *La Roue* (1923), an intense drama characterized by rapid editing and visual lyricism. His undisputed masterpiece is *Napoléon* (1927), a monumental work that introduced Polyvision and the use of multiple screens (triptychs), ahead of its time with its frenetic and visually complex editing.

His style was characterized by vibrant emotionality, a sense of the grandiose, and constant technical experimentation. Although best known as a director, Gance also appeared as an actor in several of his own productions and in films by other directors, often in dramatic roles that reflected the intensity of his cinematic visions.