**Abel Gance (1889-1981)** was an innovative French director, screenwriter, and producer, and a central figure in silent cinema. His works are known for their visual grandeur and daring technical experimentation.

His most important films include “J'accuse!” (1919), a powerful anti-war drama made after World War I, and “La Roue” (1923), famous for its rapid editing and intensive use of close-ups.

His masterpiece is considered to be “Napoléon” (1927), a monumental historical epic. For this film, Gance introduced revolutionary techniques such as Polyvision (the simultaneous use of three screens for a panoramic “triptych”) and frenetic editing that anticipated future trends. His style was characterized by ambition, dramatic pathos, and a constant search for new forms of expression. Gance profoundly influenced the history of cinema with his pioneering vision.