Roman Polanski facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roman Polanski
Polanski in Paris, 2011
Born	Raymond Roman Thierry Liebling (1933-08-18) 18 August 1933 (age 91) Paris, France
Citizenship	Poland France
Education	Łódź Film School Kraków Academy of Fine Arts
Occupation	Film director producer screenwriter actor
Years active	1953–present
Spouse(s)	Barbara Kwiatkowska-Lass (1959–1962) Sharon Tate (1968–1969) Emmanuelle Seigner (1989)
Children	2, including Morgane
Signature

Raymond Roman Thierry Polański (born 18 August 1933), also known as Roman Polanski, is a famous film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He has French and Polish citizenship. He has won many awards for his movies. These include an Academy Award, two British Academy Film Awards, and the Palme d'Or.

Polanski's family moved from Paris to Kraków, Poland, in 1937. Two years later, World War II began. His family was trapped in the Kraków Ghetto during the war. Polanski survived the the Holocaust by hiding his Jewish background. In 1969, his wife, actress Sharon Tate, tragically died.

Polanski's first full-length film was Knife in the Water (1962). It was made in Poland and was nominated for an Academy Award. He later moved to the United Kingdom. There he directed films like Repulsion (1965) and The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967). In 1968, he moved to the United States. He directed the popular horror film Rosemary's Baby (1968).

Other well-known films by Polanski include Chinatown (1974) and The Pianist (2002). For The Pianist, he won the Academy Award for Best Director. Polanski has directed 23 feature films so far.

Early life

Polanski was born in Paris, France. His mother was Bula Katz-Przedborska. His father was Mojżesz Liebling, who later changed his name to Ryszard Polański. Polanski's father was from Poland and was Jewish. His mother was born in Russia and was partly Jewish.

In 1937, Polanski's family moved back to Kraków, Poland. World War II began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. Kraków was taken over by German forces. The Polański family faced hard times because they were Jewish.

When Polanski was about six, he went to primary school for only a few weeks. Then, all Jewish children were removed from schools. Soon after, Jewish children over twelve had to wear white armbands with a blue Star of David. Polanski was not allowed to go to school again for six years.

Polanski saw the Jewish people of Kraków being forced into a small area called the Kraków Ghetto. He also saw them being sent to German camps. His father was taken away to a camp in Austria. His mother, who was pregnant, was taken to Auschwitz and died there.

Polanski managed to escape the Kraków Ghetto in 1943. Some Polish Roman Catholics helped him hide. One woman had promised his father she would shelter him. Polanski went to church and learned Catholic prayers. He pretended to be Catholic to stay safe.

By the end of the war in 1945, many Polish people had died. Most of them were civilians. Three million Polish Jews died, which was 90% of the Jewish population.

After the war, Polanski was reunited with his father. They moved back to Kraków. His father remarried in 1946 and died in 1984. Polanski visited his family in Kraków. His relatives also visited him in Hollywood and Paris.

Polanski remembered the villages where he lived during the war. He said they were very simple. There was no electricity. The children he lived with did not know about it. He said, "They were really simple Catholic peasants. This Polish village was like the English village in Tess. Very primitive. No electricity."

Polanski said that living in a country under Communist rule helped him understand how difficult life could be. He also made friends with other children after the war. These included Roma Ligocka and Ryszard Horowitz.

Early career in Poland

Polanski's star on the Łódź walk of fame

Polanski studied at the National Film School in Łódź, Poland. In the 1950s, he started acting. He appeared in films like Andrzej Wajda's Pokolenie (A Generation, 1954).

Polanski also started directing short films in 1955. His first was Rower (Bicycle). This film was based on a real event where someone tried to steal his money and bicycle. Several other short films he made in school became well-known. These include Two Men and a Wardrobe (1958) and When Angels Fall (1959). He finished film school in 1959.

Film director

1962–1976: Breakthrough and stardom

Polanski in 1969

Knife in the Water (1962) Polanski's first full-length movie was Knife in the Water. It was one of the first Polish films after World War II that was not about the war. The story is about a rich couple who take a mysterious hitchhiker on a boat trip. Knife in the Water was very successful in other countries. It made Polanski known around the world. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 1963.

After this film, Polanski left Poland and moved to France. He had already made two short films there in 1961. These were The Fat and the Lean and Mammals. However, Polanski found it hard to get support for his films in France.

Repulsion (1965) Polanski made three films in England. He wrote the scripts with Gérard Brach. Repulsion (1965) is a psychological horror film. It is about a young Belgian woman named Carol (Catherine Deneuve).

The film's style was influenced by early surrealist movies. It also took ideas from horror films of the 1950s.

Cul-de-sac (1966) Cul-de-sac (1966) is a dark comedy filmed in Northumberland. The movie's mood and story are similar to plays like Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot.

The Fearless Vampire Killers/Dance of the Vampires (1967) The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) is a funny movie that makes fun of vampire films. It is known as "Dance of the Vampires" in many countries. The story follows a professor and his assistant, Alfred (played by Polanski). They travel through Transylvania looking for vampires. This was Polanski's first color film. It had a unique visual style with snowy, fairy-tale scenes.

Polanski met Sharon Tate while making this film. She played the innkeeper's daughter. They got married in London on 20 January 1968.

Rosemary's Baby (1968) Robert Evans, a studio head, asked Polanski to direct a film. He wanted Polanski to read the horror novel Rosemary's Baby. Polanski read it quickly and decided to write and direct the movie. He wrote the script in just over three weeks. The film, Rosemary's Baby (1968), was very successful. It was his first Hollywood movie. This made him a major filmmaker. Polanski was nominated for another Academy Award for his screenplay.

Macbeth (1971) Polanski worked with Shakespeare expert Kenneth Tynan to write the script for Macbeth. Jon Finch and Francesca Annis played the main roles.

What? (1972) What? (1972) was written by Polanski and Gérard Brach. It is a funny and absurd comedy. It is loosely based on themes from Alice in Wonderland.

Chinatown (1974) Polanski returned to Hollywood in 1973 to direct Chinatown (1974). This film is considered one of the best American mystery crime movies. It was inspired by real events about water disputes in California.

The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards. Robert Towne won for Best Original Screenplay. It was the last film Polanski directed in the United States. In 1991, the film was chosen to be kept in the United States National Film Registry. It is often listed as one of the best films in the world.

The Tenant (1976) Polanski went back to Paris for his next film, The Tenant (1976). It was based on a novel by Roland Topor. Polanski directed the film and also played the main character. He played a shy Polish immigrant living in Paris. The Tenant is part of a group of films called the "Apartment Trilogy." These films explore feelings of loneliness and mental struggles.

1979–2004

Tess (1979) Polanski dedicated his next film, Tess (1979), to his late wife, Sharon Tate. She had suggested he read the book Tess of the d'Urbervilles. She thought it would make a good film. Years after her passing, he met Nastassja Kinski, a young actress. He offered her the main role, which she accepted.

The role needed a local accent. So, Polanski sent her to London for five months to study. She also spent time in the Dorset countryside. In the film, Kinski starred with Peter Firth and Leigh Lawson.

Tess was filmed in northern France. It became the most expensive film made in France at that time. It was a financial success and was well-liked by critics and audiences. Polanski won France's César Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. He also received his fourth Academy Award nomination. The film won three Oscars for cinematography, art direction, and costume design.

Polanski in Italy in 1984

In 1981, Polanski directed a play called Amadeus. He also acted in it as Mozart. He directed it first in Warsaw, then in Paris. He directed the play again in Milan in 1999.

Pirates (1986) Polanski's next film was Pirates, made almost seven years later. It was a grand historical film starring Walter Matthau as Captain Red. Polanski wanted it to be like the adventure movies he loved as a child. The film is about a rebellion led by Captain Red and Jean Baptiste on a ship. The film was shot in Tunisia. It was very expensive to make and did not do well financially or with critics.

Frantic (1988) Frantic (1988) is a suspense-thriller film. It stars Harrison Ford and Emmanuelle Seigner, who later became Polanski's wife. The film is about a tourist in Paris whose wife is kidnapped. He tries to find her when the authorities are not helping. The film did not make much money but got good reviews from critics.

Polanski with wife Emmanuelle Seigner at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival

Bitter Moon (1992) In 1992, Polanski directed Bitter Moon. The film starred Seigner, Hugh Grant, and Kristin Scott Thomas. A film critic from The New York Times said the film was "world-class" and "definitely not dull."

Death and the Maiden (1994) In 1994, Polanski directed Death and the Maiden. It starred Ben Kingsley and Sigourney Weaver. The film is based on a famous play. A critic from the Chicago Sun-Times praised Polanski's directing. He wrote, "Death and the Maiden is all about acting."

The Fearless Vampire Killers (1997) In 1997, Polanski directed a stage version of his 1967 film The Fearless Vampire Killers. It first opened in Vienna. It then had successful runs in other cities like Stuttgart and Berlin.

On 11 March 1998, Polanski became a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.

Polanski at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival for The Pianist

The Ninth Gate (1999) The Ninth Gate is a thriller based on the novel El Club Dumas. It stars Johnny Depp. The movie's story is about an old book called "The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows." This book is believed to be the key to evil forces.

The Pianist (2002) In 2001, Polanski filmed The Pianist. It is based on the true story of Polish-Jewish musician Władysław Szpilman during World War II. Szpilman's experiences were similar to Polanski's own family's experiences during the war. Both Szpilman and Polanski survived, but their families did not.

When the film premiered in Warsaw, Poland, in 2002, people were very proud. In May 2002, the film won the Palme d'Or award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. It also won César Awards for Best Film and Best Director.

The film was highly praised in North America. Film critic Roger Ebert said Polanski's directing was "masterful." He also felt that Polanski was showing his deep feelings about surviving the war. Polanski won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Director. He could not attend the ceremony in Hollywood. Actor Harrison Ford accepted the award for him. Polanski later received the Crystal Globe award in 2004.

2005–present

Oliver Twist (2005) Oliver Twist is a film based on Charles Dickens' novel. It was written by Ronald Harwood, who also wrote The Pianist. The film was shot in Prague. Polanski said he made this film so his children could watch it. He also felt that the young character's life was like his own during World War II.

Polanski and Spanish writer Diego Moldes, Madrid 2005

The Ghost Writer (2010) The Ghost Writer is a thriller. It is about a writer working on the life story of a former British prime minister. The film won six awards at the European Film Awards in 2010. These included best movie, director, actor, and screenplay. Polanski won a Silver Bear for Best Director at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival. In 2011, it won four César Awards.

The film is based on a novel by British writer Robert Harris. Harris and Polanski had worked together before. The cast includes Ewan McGregor as the writer and Pierce Brosnan as the former prime minister. The film was shot in Germany.

In the United States, film critic Roger Ebert listed it as one of his top films of 2010. He said, "this movie is the work of a man who knows how to direct a thriller." Co-star Ewan McGregor also praised Polanski, calling him "a legend."

Polanski and Emmanuelle Seigner at the César Awards in 2011

Carnage (2011) Polanski filmed Carnage in early 2011. It is a film version of a play by Yasmina Reza. It is a comedy about two couples who meet after their children have a fight. Their polite conversation quickly turns into chaos. It stars Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz, and John C. Reilly. Although set in New York, it was filmed in Paris. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2011.

Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet talked about Polanski's directing. Foster said, "He has a very, very definitive style." Winslet added, "Roman is one of the most extraordinary men I've ever met." She also noted that he likes to work with a small crew. The director of the New York Film Festival called Polanski "a poet of small spaces." Polanski also made a small, uncredited appearance in the film.

Venus in Fur (2013)

Roman Polanski, Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric promoting Venus in Fur at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013

Polanski directed a French-language film called Venus in Fur. It stars his wife Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric. Polanski worked with the play's author, David Ives, on the script. The film was shot in French. It was Polanski's first non-English film in forty years. The film premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival in May 2013.

Based on a True Story (2017)

Polanski promoting Based on a True Story at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival

Polanski's Based on a True Story is based on a French novel. The film is about a writer (Emmanuelle Seigner) who is struggling to write a new book. She is also being followed by an obsessed fan (Eva Green). The film started production in November 2016. Polanski and Olivier Assayas adapted the script. It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in May 2017.

An Officer and a Spy (2019) Polanski's 2019 film An Officer and a Spy is about the famous 19th-century Dreyfus affair. The film stars Jean Dujardin as French officer Georges Picquart. It shows his efforts to reveal the truth about false evidence. This evidence led to Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer, being wrongly accused of sharing military secrets. He was sent to Devil's Island. The film was written by Robert Harris, who worked with Polanski for the third time. It also stars Louis Garrel as Dreyfus and Polanski's wife Emmanuelle Seigner. Filming began in November 2018 and finished in April 2019.

The film was first planned to be shot in Warsaw in 2014. However, production was delayed. Later, new French film tax credits allowed the film to be shot in Paris. It was a very expensive film to make. Polanski mentioned the difficulty of finding the right actors and money for such a large project.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 30 August 2019. It received a standing ovation and won the Grand Jury Prize. It was released in France in November 2019.

In February 2020, Polanski won Best Director at France's 2020 Cesar Awards. This was Polanski's fifth Best Director Cesar win, a record for a single director. His wife Emmanuelle Seigner accepted the award for him. Polanski did not attend the ceremony. He said he wanted to protect his team and family from protests.

The Palace (2023) The Palace began filming in February 2022 in Gstaad, Switzerland. The film stars Mickey Rourke, Fanny Ardant, and Oliver Masucci. It is a dark comedy about guests at a luxury hotel on New Year's Eve 1999. Polanski wrote the script with Jerzy Skolimowski. Skolimowski also co-wrote Polanski's first film, Knife in the Water, in 1962. The film was mainly funded by an Italian company. Polanski's reputation made it hard to find actors for some roles. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2023.

Personal life

Roman Polanski with Sharon Tate in 1968

In 1959, Polanski married actress Barbara Kwiatkowska-Lass. She was in his short film When Angels Fall. They separated in 1961 and divorced the next year.

In the 1960s, Polanski dated several actresses. These included Carol Lynley, Jacqueline Bisset, and Jill St. John.

Polanski met actress Sharon Tate while making The Fearless Vampire Killers. They started dating during the film's production. Polanski and Tate married in London on 20 January 1968.

In 1989, Polanski married French actress Emmanuelle Seigner. They have two children, a daughter named Morgane and a son named Elvis. Polanski and his children speak Polish at home.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Roman Polanski para niños