Camus was born in Chappes , Ardennes , France and died in Paris . He studied art and intended to become an art teacher . However , World War II interrupted his plans . He spent part of the war in a German prisoner-of-war camp . Prior to directing films , Camus assisted filmmakers in France , including Jacques Feyder , Luis Buñuel , and Jacques Becker . He directed nearly a dozen films , including '' Orfeu Negro '' ( also known as '' Black Orpheus '' ) , which won the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival and the 1960 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film In 1960 , Camus made a second Brazlilian-themed film , '' Os bandeirantes '' . Twenty years after '' Orfeu Negro '' , Camus returned to Brazilian themes for what would prove to be his last film , '' Bahia '' ( also known as '' Otalia da Bahia '' and '' Os pastores da noite '' ) , based on a novel by Brazilian novelist Jorge Amado . These films , however , failed to recapture the success of '' Orfeu Negro '' . In 1970 , Camus had a moderate success with a World War II comedy , '' Le Mur de l'Atlantique '' ( The Atlantic Wall ) , starring the well-known French comedian Bourvil . Camus ended his career working primarily in television
1959 Cannes Film Festival
1959 Cannes Film Festival
Marcel Camus