Jonathan Glazer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jonathan Glazer
Glazer in 2023
Born	(1965-03-26) 26 March 1965 (age 60) London, England
Education	Nottingham Trent University (BA)
Occupation	Film director screenwriter
Years active	1993–present
Notable work	... Beast (2000) Birth (2004) Under the Skin (2013) The Zone of Interest (2023)
Spouse(s)	Rachael Penfold
Children	3

Jonathan Glazer (born 26 March 1965) is an English film director and screenwriter. He started his career in theater before moving into making movies. He is known for directing four major films: ... Beast (2000), Birth (2004), Under the Skin (2013), and The Zone of Interest (2023).

Glazer has won many awards for his work. These include a BAFTA Award and a César Award. He has also been nominated for two Academy Awards. His films often explore themes like loneliness and feeling out of place. They are known for their unique visual style and powerful music.

For his film The Zone of Interest, Glazer won the Grand Prix prize at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The film also won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film for the United Kingdom.

Besides movies, Glazer has directed famous music videos for artists like Massive Attack, Radiohead, and Jamiroquai. His video for Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" is especially well-known. He has also directed commercials for major brands like Nike, Sony, and Guinness.

Early Life and Schooling

Jonathan Glazer was born in London, England, on March 26, 1965. His family is of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. His great-grandparents came to the United Kingdom from Ukraine and Bessarabia (a region in Eastern Europe) in the early 1900s.

Glazer grew up in a Reform Jewish family in London. His father loved movies, and they often watched films together by famous directors like David Lean and Billy Wilder. This inspired his interest in filmmaking.

He attended the Jewish Free School in London. After high school, he went to art school because he was very good at drawing. He later graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in theater design.

Career Beginnings

Early Work in Film and Music

After college, Glazer started by directing plays and making trailers for movies and TV shows. In 1993, he directed three short films. He then began directing commercials for famous brands like Guinness and Stella Artois. His 1999 "Surfer" ad for Guinness was later voted the best commercial of all time in a poll.

During the 1990s, Glazer also became a well-known music video director. He worked with the rock band Radiohead on their videos for "Street Spirit" and "Karma Police." He also directed the award-winning video for Jamiroquai's song "Virtual Insanity" in 1996. This video won him an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction.

Feature Film Director

2000–2011: First Two Films

In 2000, Glazer directed his first feature film, ... Beast. It was a crime movie that received very positive reviews. The actor Ben Kingsley was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film.

His second movie was Birth, released in 2004. It starred the actress Nicole Kidman. The film tells a mysterious story about a woman who believes a young boy is the reincarnation of her dead husband.

2013: Under the Skin

Glazer in 2013.

Glazer's third film, Under the Skin, came out in 2013. It is a science fiction film starring Scarlett Johansson as an alien who preys on men in Scotland. The film is based on a novel by Michel Faber.

Under the Skin was praised by critics for its artistic style and originality. Many critics named it one of the best films of 2014 and of the decade. It was also ranked 61st on the BBC's list of the 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century.

2019–present: The Zone of Interest

Glazer's fourth film is The Zone of Interest, which premiered in 2023. The film is based on a novel by Martin Amis. It tells the story of the family of a Nazi commandant living next to the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.

The film was highly acclaimed at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix prize. It also won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, which was the first time a British film had won in that category. At the BAFTA Awards, it won for both Outstanding British Film and Best Film Not in the English Language.

When accepting the Academy Award, Glazer spoke about the themes in his film. He connected the story's theme of dehumanization (treating people as less than human) to current events.

All our choices are made to reflect and confront us in the present. Not to say, 'Look what they did then,' rather 'Look what we do now.' Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst. It shaped all of our past and present. Right now, we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether the victims of October 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all the victims of this dehumanization — how do we resist?

Personal Life

Glazer is known for being private about his personal life. He is married to Rachael Penfold, who works in visual effects. They live in Camden, London, with their three children.

Glazer has said that director Stanley Kubrick is his favorite filmmaker. He is also influenced by European directors like Federico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman.

Filmography

Feature Films

Famous Music Videos

See also

In Spanish: Jonathan Glazer para niños

• List of British film directors
• List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain