Legendary man: Krzysztof Zanussi. Biography of Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

World cinema knows many names of directors who have become classics. Particular attention should be paid to those who are not Hollywood celestials. The Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi occupies a special place among them. He has made over 85 films in his long career, and is considered a true master of his craft.

Love from Poland

The future director, whose fame would later thunder throughout the world, was born in Warsaw in 1939. His name, so unsound for Soviet viewers, will one day be heard in our country. Few people know that this man was not going to conquer cinema at all. Moreover, in the years of his youth, they did not think about such a thing. Like many of his peers, Krzysztof Zanussi entered the Warsaw University, and after the Krakow University, where he studied physics and philosophy. As they say, any experience will come in handy, because he will invest his thoughts about life in his future works, which are nevertheless directly related to cinema.

Unconditional success

Careerfilmmaker began with the production of amateur films. At first, Krzysztof did it for himself and his friends. And then I got so involved that I thought: why not turn it into a full-fledged activity? Some of his works have received awards, which further strengthened the further desire to create for the people. Leaving philosophy behind, Zanussi entered the Lodz Film School, graduating in 1966. This is how director Krzysztof Zanussi is born for the first time. And immediately - success. The thesis "Death of a Provincial" shines in the program of the Venice Film Festival in 1967.

To consolidate Krzysztof's skills is taken with the help of television and documentary projects. The feature-length debut film was the drama "The Structure of the Crystal" in 1969. The next project is drama again. With the release of Family Life, Zanussi is spoken of as a promising director, fearlessly exploring the mores and problems of the Polish intelligentsia of that time. A cold and, in a sense, prudent rationalist, he is not afraid to raise the most complex and delicate problems of society and the country.

The first half of the 70s is characterized by the beginning of a long and productive path of the director. Films by Krzysztof Zanussi are released periodically, and at least two films a year. He does not shy away from taking on television and full-length films, does not forget about short films, in which he especially tries to reveal the idea in the allotted time. Many of his films will be included in the program of various film festivals (in San Remo, Poland, Germany, France, Locarno, Chicago, Cannes). Among them are the mosthis famous hits: “Hypothesis”, “House of Women”, “Behind the Wall”, “Role”, “Roads in the Night”, “Paradigm”, “Night Watch”, “Protective Colors”, “Quarterly Balance”.

Krzysztof Zanussi: other incarnations

Zanussi himself wrote the script for almost all of his paintings. The same can be said about producing, which he also did. But Krzysztof's acting attracted little - he played in only two films. By the way, one of them, the mini-series “Pilgrimage to the Eternal City”, was shot by Vladimir Khotinenko. The main roles were played by Nikita Mikhalkov, Vladimir Mashkov, Yuri Solomin.

Krzysztof Zanussi has published in separate books a collection of scripts, books on reflections on modern cinema and personal life. In 1980, he was invited to the post of head of the creative association "Tor", a little earlier - vice-chairman of the Union of Cinematographers in his homeland, Poland. Krzysztof Zanussi held this title for nine years.

The name of a talented filmmaker, who is often compared to Woody Allen, is familiar in every corner of the world. Zanussi worked in a number of countries, where he staged theater and opera performances. In 2008, he not only became a guest of Russia, but also staged the play "Duet" on the stage of the "Old House" theater in Novosibirsk. Zanussi has received numerous international and national awards throughout his career.

Modern Krzysztof Zanussi

“Foreign body”, a painting of 2014, has become one of the discussed works of the great master. Drama according to his script tells about a couple in love, whichtear apart many social and social norms. The girl goes to the monastery, and the young man, wanting to be closer to her, gets a job in a large company. It is here that he will have to face the cynicism and cunning of our society.

The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. In Russia, “Foreign Body” was released in December 2014.