Polish film director Krzysztof Kieslowski: biography, filmography, personal life

Bright, but short life, which lived Polish film director Krzysztof Kieslowski, itself is worthy of the cinema. There were many victories, difficulties, love, happiness, tragedy and creativity in it. Krzysztof Kieslowski is not the last in the list of great film directors of the world. Interesting facts of his biography and creative path are worthy of special consideration.

Childhood

Krzysztof Kieslowski was born on June 27, 1941 in Warsaw. Little is known about the early years of his life, the family was forced to flee Poland because of the war, after which they return to the country and for 20 years wander through small towns. The reason for the moves was father's illness: he suffered from tuberculosis, and the family was looking for the most favorable climate for him. While the head of the family was treated in sanatoria, my mother worked hard. The father died when Krzysztof was a teenager, and the family moved to Warsaw. All his life, Kieslowski considers his father to be the most important person in his life. In childhood, the boy had weak lungs, and he often had to spend time in bed, at that time he read a lot, and books formed his character and vision of the world.

Finding Yourself

At the age of 15 Krzysztof Kieslowski decided to quit school (he did not want to study) and began to search for his vocation. To begin with, on the advice of his father, enrolled in the course of firefighters, but very quickly left them. After that, the young man realized that he still wants to get some kind of education. Quite by accident, with the help of relatives, in 1957 he entered the College of Theater Technicians. This time helped him to formulate a dream - he firmly decided to become a theater director. During his studies at the college, Krzysztof surrenders to his favorite pursuits - reading, going to theater and cinema and dreaming. After school he works as a costumier at the theater and spends money to continue his studies.

Acquisition of skill

Since in Poland in the 1950s there was no special educational institution for the preparation of theater directors, Krzysztof Kieslowski decides to enter a film school in the city of Lodz. Mom goes with him and waits a long time for the son to pass the exams. Unfortunately, the first attempt failed. But my mother persuaded Krzysztof to enter the Humanities faculty, where he studied for a year, and then on the second attempt entered the school of cinema. By this time, he had already become disillusioned with the theater, and during his studies he discovered the great film directors and fell in love with this art forever, with whom he would bind his whole life. During his studies, Kieslowski had the opportunity not only to receive knowledge, but also to apply them in practice, the student could shoot one film a year. And he tries himself in the documentary and feature films. During his studies, he shoots a few short films: "Tram", "Shooting", "Concert by request." In 1968, Kieslowski received a diploma from the School of Cinematography and decided to do documentary films.

Kieslowski Documentary Officer

In 1968, Krzysztof Kieslowski came to work at the Warsaw Documentary Film Studio. His theme in the documentary was the daily life of the Poles. It does not concern the political aspects of life, but it shows an objective picture of life, with its problems and difficulties. This was negatively perceived by the authorities, and this complicates his life. So, his film "Workers 71" about workers discussing the reasons that push them to strike, subjected to severe censorship and show in a greatly reduced form. Another unpleasant incident occurred with the tape "Station", when his shots were used as evidence in the criminal case.

By 1975, he had shot less than 10 documentaries. The director's paintings "The Huddle", "From the point of view of the night watchman" are at the junction of the game and documentary films, non-professional actors play in them, the director is looking for his artistic method. But the pressure of the authorities led to the fact that Krzysztof Kieslowski, whose photo had already appeared in the directories of documentary filmmakers, decided to withdraw from this sphere. Realizing that feature films make it possible to show life no less truthfully, but give more freedom, it goes into a big cinematography. However, the director does not part with the documentalism, periodically Kieslowski shoots new tapes in this genre and by the beginning of the 80s he creates 20 documentary films before finally leaving for the feature film.

Feature Films

In 1975, Krzysztof Kieslowski shoots the first feature film - "Personnel", which was immediately praised by critics, and even received the main prize at the film festival in Manheim. Films "Scar", "Peace" were not noticed criticism, in them Kieslowski is just looking for his way. The film "The Filmmaker" of 1979 marks the ascent of the director along the path of glory, for which he receives prizes at the Moscow Film Festival and at the festival in Chicago.

In the movie Kieslowski tries to tell the truth about life, this leads to the fact that his film "Case" was banned to show, and the tape "Without end" (1984) attracted close attention of the authorities, but as times in Poland changed, the censorship could not To forbid the rental of a picture. While working on this film, a team is formed, which then accompanied the director on all his projects, it included screenwriter Krzysztof Pisevich and composer Zbigniew Pricener.

After this picture in the work of the director comes a three-year break, after which the world saw the new Kieslowski - a powerful, philosophical innovator. Over the last 7 years of his work in film, the director has been shooting 7 of his best, brilliant films. Krzysztof Kieslowski, whose filmography numbered a little more than ten films, was among the greatest directors of the 20th century precisely thanks to the works of recent years.

The Decalogue

In 1988, director Krzysztof Kieslowski released a television series of 10 episodes of the "Decalogue". In 10 series the author tells the stories of different people who are experiencing difficult, stage moments. The author reflects on religion, love, death, politics. The films are shot in different genres and represent all the richness and diversity of life. Philosophical reflections Kieslowski can put on a picture of everyday history, which can happen to everyone. The painting was very favorably received by criticism, she received several prestigious awards at international festivals and brought real world fame to the author.

"Three colors"

Kieslowski Krzysztof, whose famous films have become a model of metaphysical cinema, has always sought to make his paintings make the viewer think. The director sought to find a form of presentation that would entice a person, but was filled with deep content. He was characterized by a craving for seriality, he wanted to say a lot to his viewer, and within the framework of one film such a full and profound statement did not fit.

The founder and almost the sole representative of the monumental philosophical, serial cinema was Krzysztof Kieslowski. "Three colors" - a trilogy, which, on the one hand, is a holistic philosophical plot with intersecting characters, on the other - combines three independent pictures, became an innovative word in the art of the 20th century. The film received a huge number of awards, became a commercially successful project and brought the author a worldwide, well-deserved fame.

Creative heritage

Krzysztof Kieslowski, whose filmography is not particularly long, but almost every tape in it is a find, created masterpieces. When in 1988-1989 the pictures "Short film about love" and "Short film about death" appear on the screens, the world is in shock. These works had a direct impact on Europe, they became the decisive argument in the debate on the prohibition of the death penalty.

If Poland has something to be proud of, then one of the first places is Kieslowski Krzysztof. The films "Decalogue", "The Double Life of Veronica" and "Three Colors" became the best examples of the world cinema and glorified the country. After the trilogy "Blue. White. Red, "Kieslowski said that he would no longer shoot, because he said everything he wanted.

In the last two years of his life, he really did not shoot the movie, although he was working on a script for a new trilogy with the working title "Paradise. Hell. Purgatory "by the Dantean" Divine Comedy ". Unfortunately, the plans were not realized ...

Despite the fact that Kieslowski has not existed for more than ten years, he remains one of the most influential filmmakers in the world. His work is studied in all film academies, and the audience continues to watch his films, books are written about him, films are made, he remains an actual phenomenon of modern culture.

Already after his departure, the book "About Me" comes out, which contains the director's reflections and stories about his life, about Polish cinema, about films and plans.

Private life

Krzysztof Kieslowski, whose personal life interests his fans, has always been very popular with the opposite sex. He was very charming and in his youth he often changed his girlfriends, envy his comrades. But one meeting changed everything.

When Krzysztof studied at the university, a friend called him for a "double" date. Then he first saw Mary. In two weeks he made a proposal to the girl, and they lived happily all their lives. Krzysztof Kieslowski, whose wife became the most faithful friend and companion, always spoke very gently of his second half. It was a very harmonious couple.

In life, Kieslowski was a simple and interesting person. He had a lot of friends and not only from the cinema. He passionately loved to make something with his hands, he devoted all his spare time to the repair of some equipment, he could search for spare parts in stores for a long time, he liked carpentry. He could repair the car himself, and friends often used it. Working with his hands, he rested and got real pleasure.

The director's life ended abruptly when he was only 54 years old. During the operation on the heart, he died. March 13, 1996 the world lost the Artist.