Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (2011)

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir (2011) (DVD) (*)

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Screened, competed or awarded at:
Cannes Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital Stereo )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
94 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White

Movie filmed in 2011 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
Italy ( Italy, Greece )
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Laurent Bouzereau

Written By:
Laurent Bouzereau

Actors:
Roman Polanski ..... Himself
Andrew Braunsberg ..... Himself
Catherine Deneuve ..... Herself (archive footage)
Pawel Edelman ..... Himself (archive footage)
Samantha Geimer ..... Herself (archive footage)
Barbara Lass ..... Herself (archive footage)
Emmanuelle Seigner ..... Herself (archive footage)
Sharon Tate ..... Herself (archive footage)
Andrzej Wajda ..... Himself (archive footage)

Synopsis:

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir is the life affirming story of both the man and the filmmaker. With touching sincerity and unprecedented access Roman details his own extraordinary life from his childhood in the Cracow ghetto, his first films in Poland, the move to Paris, his career in Europe and America - crowned with an Oscar for THE PIANIST, the tragedy of the murder of his pregnant wife Sharon Tate in Los Angeles, the controversy surrounding his arrest in 1977, through to his work and life today in France with his wife Emmanuelle Seigner. Filmed during Roman Polanski's house arrest in Gstaad, this is one of the most honest and revealing portraits of an artist committed to film.

Roman Polanski talks about being a Holocaust survivor who became a controversial public figure and an internationally acclaimed filmmaker. During the time Roman Polanski was under house arrest in Switzerland where he was to receive a life time achievement award at film festival, a good friend and colleague decided to assemble a documentary about him. Andrew Braunsberg who was a producer on The Tenant (1976) which was helmed by the French born director serves as the narrator and interviewer. Braunsberg keeps a brisk pace with the questioning and inserts himself into the proceedings; his interviewee is cooperate and emotional at times. A funny yet sad moment occurs when Roman Polanski who had to work in a paper bag factory as a child demonstrates the skill in front of the camera; life was never easy for him as his mother died at a concentration camp, and his father remarried leaving his young son to be raised by an uncle. An act of kindness occurred when a Polish moviemaker advised the struggling but promising actor to pursue film school to learn what he was really meant to be - a director. Success would not come immediately but the rising film talent was courted by Hollywood and fell in love with an American actress; when Sharon Tate (The Fearless Vampire Killers) was killed along with four others the media circus surrounding his life commenced as Polanski was initially a suspect in the case. It was later discovered that Tate was the victim of a group of followers belonging to Charles Manson who were sent to seek revenge on a former resident of the house. The media scrutiny would reach a fever pitch when it was revealed that the man behind the camera had sex with a minor. After serving prison time and being told he may have to go back, Polanski sought refuge in the place of his birth, France and would never set foot in America again. Life would regain a sense of balance when the filmmaker discovered family life with French actress Emmanuelle Seigner (Frantic) and their two children. One can wonder why Roman Polanski decided to strip himself emotionally bare to the camera but perhaps he felt the time had arrived to tell his side of the story. Assisting the storytelling are a wealth of archive footage and photograph as well as the personal rapport between the two men. It is both heart-breaking but also inspiring to think that an individual who has experienced so much personal tragedy could have risen to such acclaim and stature. The documentary certainly casts Polanski in a favourable light but this does not mean that the dark corners of his life are left unexplored. Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir is what exactly what it claims to be and is essential viewing for those seeking to better understand the legendary Academy Award-winning filmmaker.

Laurent Bouzereau's documentary on one of cinema's greats is pretty simple in structure: Producer Andrew Braunsberg, an old friend of director Roman Polanski ('Chinatown,' 'Tess') visits him for a long conversation about his life and career. The subtext is that this takes place in 2009, when Polanski was under house arrest in Zurich while awaiting possible extradition to the United States for a criminal charge (unlawful sex with a minor) dating back to 1977.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 07 November, 2013.