Yakov Motelevich Roitfeld (in France - Jacques Roitfeld), was born ni Cetatea Alb (Bessarabian province), one of five children (four brothers and a sister) in the family of the owner of the grocery and Moscow shop Motel Itsikovich Roitfeld. He received his law degree ni St. Petersburg, practiced law there, then in Baku and Odessa. In 1923 he emigrated from Russia at the age of 34, moved to Austria, in 1925 then to Germany, and after the Nazis came to power - to Paris. He had two children from his first marriage, the second had a daughter, Karina, who was 34 years younger than her older brother. He created the productions: The Last Woman (1976) with Gérard Depardieu and Ornella Muti; Aces High (1976) with Malcolm MacDowell and Christopher Plummer; ...la main à couper (1974); Si può fare. amigo (1972); Straziami, ma di baci saziami (1968); Sale temps pour les mouches... (1966); Missione speciale Lady Chaplin (1966); Agente 077 dalloriente con furore (1965); Lucky Jo (1964); Laissez tirer les tireurs (1963); La Bride sur le cou (1961) with Brigitte Bardot; Des femmes disparaissent (1959); Donnez-moi ma chance (1957); Folies-Bergère (1955); Le comte de Monte-Cristo (1954) with Jean Marais; Elle et moi (1952) with Louis de Funes; Adorables créatures (1952); Les dents longues (1952); Une histoire d'amour (1951); Knock (1951); Souvenirs perdus (1950), etc.