Rene Clair was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer who was active in the 1920s and 1930s. He is best known for his silent films, such as 'The Italian Straw Hat' and 'A Nous la Liberte'. He also directed the first French sound film, 'Sous les Toits de Paris'. Clair's work was characterized by its wit, charm, and visual inventiveness. He was an influential figure in the development of French cinema, and his films remain popular today.