Roman Polanski

Born:August 18, 1933

Place of Birth:Paris, France

Known For:Directing

Biography

Roman Polanski, the enigmatic Polish-French filmmaker, has left an indelible mark on the world of cinema with his unique storytelling and visionary direction. Born in Paris in 1933 to Polish parents, Polanski's early years were marked by tragedy and resilience. Surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, he channeled his experiences into his art, becoming a master of both art house and commercial films.

Polanski's career took off with his debut feature, "Knife in the Water" in 1962, which garnered critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination. His move to the United States in the late 1960s solidified his status as a groundbreaking director, with the iconic film "Rosemary's Baby" earning him widespread recognition and accolades. Despite personal tragedies, such as the murder of his wife Sharon Tate by the Manson Family, Polanski's creative spirit remained undaunted.

Controversy has often surrounded Polanski, notably stemming from a 1977 incident that led to charges of unlawful sex with a minor. Fleeing the United States to avoid sentencing, he has since faced legal challenges and an international arrest warrant. Despite these obstacles, Polanski continued to create cinematic masterpieces that captivated audiences and critics alike.

One of his most celebrated works, "The Pianist" (2002), stands as a poignant reflection of his own tumultuous past, drawing parallels to his experiences during World War II. The film, based on the life of Jewish-Polish musician Władysław Szpilman, earned Polanski numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Director and the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Throughout his career, Polanski has displayed a remarkable ability to immerse audiences in gripping narratives and visually stunning landscapes. Films like "Oliver Twist" (2005), "The Ghost Writer" (2010), and "Chinatown" (1974) showcase his versatility and depth as a filmmaker. Despite facing legal challenges and controversies, Polanski's cinematic legacy endures, leaving an indelible imprint on the history of cinema.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Rush Hour 3

Det. Revi

2007

After a botched assassination attempt, the mismatched duo finds themselves in Paris, struggling to retrieve a precious list of names, as the murderous crime syndicate's henchmen try their best to stop them. Once more, Lee and Carter must fight their way through dangerous gangsters; however, this time, the past has come back to haunt Lee. Will the boys get the job done once and for all?

Chinatown

Man with Knife

1974

Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.

The Fearless Vampire Killers

Alfred

1967

A noted professor and his dim-witted apprentice fall prey to their inquiring vampires, while on the trail of the ominous damsel in distress.

Repulsion

Spoon Player

1965

Beautiful young manicurist Carole suffers from androphobia (the pathological fear of interaction with men). When her sister and roommate, Helen, leaves their London flat to go on an Italian holiday with her married boyfriend, Carole withdraws into her apartment. She begins to experience frightful hallucinations, her fear gradually mutating into madness.

Frantic

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

1988

The wife of an American doctor suddenly vanishes in Paris. To find her, he navigates a puzzling web of language, locale, laissez-faire cops, triplicate-form filling bureaucrats and a defiant, mysterious waif who knows more than she tells.

Carnage

Neighbor

2011

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the discussion into chaos.

The Tenant

Trelkovsky

1976

A quiet and inconspicuous man rents an apartment in Paris where he finds himself drawn into a rabbit hole of dangerous paranoia.

An Officer and a Spy

Concertgoer (uncredited)

2019

In 1894, French Captain Alfred Dreyfus is wrongfully convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Devil’s Island penal colony.

A Pure Formality

Inspector

1994

Onoff is a famous writer, now a recluse. The Inspector is suspicious when Onoff is brought into the station one night, disoriented and suffering a kind of amnesia. In an isolated, rural police station, the Inspector tries to establish the events surrounding a killing, to reach a startling resolution.

Production

The Pianist

Producer

2002

The true story of pianist Władysław Szpilman's experiences in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. When the Jews of the city find themselves forced into a ghetto, Szpilman finds work playing in a café; and when his family is deported in 1942, he stays behind, works for a while as a laborer, and eventually goes into hiding in the ruins of the war-torn city.

Chinatown

Director

1974

The Ninth Gate

Producer

1999

A rare book dealer finds himself at the heart of a string of paranormal events when he is hired to find the last two copies of a text, The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, capable of summoning the Devil.

Rosemary's Baby

Screenplay

1968

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by frightening legends and mysterious events, with the purpose of starting a family.

Tower Heist

Thanks

2011

A luxury condo manager leads a staff of workers to seek payback on the Wall Street swindler who defrauded them. With only days until the billionaire gets away with the perfect crime, the unlikely crew of amateur thieves enlists the help of petty crook Slide to steal the $20 million they’re sure is hidden in the penthouse.

The Ghost Writer

Producer

2010

A writer stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician's assistant drowns in a mysterious accident.

Bitter Moon

Director

1992

A passenger on a cruise ship develops an irresistible infatuation with an eccentric paraplegic's wife.

The Fearless Vampire Killers

Story

1967

A noted professor and his dim-witted apprentice fall prey to their inquiring vampires, while on the trail of the ominous damsel in distress.

Oliver Twist

Director

2005

An adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, where an orphan meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.

Repulsion

Director

1965

Frantic

Writer

1988

Carnage

Screenplay

2011

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the discussion into chaos.

The Tenant

Screenplay

1976

A quiet and inconspicuous man rents an apartment in Paris where he finds himself drawn into a rabbit hole of dangerous paranoia.

An Officer and a Spy

Writer

2019

In 1894, French Captain Alfred Dreyfus is wrongfully convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Devil’s Island penal colony.

Tess

Director

1979

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.

Macbeth

Director

1971

Scotland, 11th century. Driven by the twisted prophecy of three witches and the ruthless ambition of his wife, warlord Macbeth, bold and brave, but also weak and hesitant, betrays his good king and his brothers in arms and sinks into the bloody mud of a path with no return, sown with crime and suspicion.

Venus in Fur

Screenplay

2013

An enigmatic actress may have a hidden agenda when she auditions for a part in a misogynistic writer's play.

Death and the Maiden

Director

1994

A political activist is convinced that her guest is a man who once tortured her for the government.

Based on a True Story

Screenplay

2017

Delphine is the author of an autobiographical novel that has become a bestseller. Exhausted by the promotional tour, just when she feels out of place, paralyzed by the idea of having to start writing again, she meets Elle, a young, attractive, intelligent, intuitive woman who seems to understand her better than anyone.