Andrzej Żuławski
Polish director of controversial art-house horror and psychological films.
Andrzej Żuławski was a Polish film director and writer best known for his 1981 psychological horror film Possession. He often went against mainstream commercialism, and his work found success primarily with European art-house audiences. Żuławski moved to France after his second feature was banned in communist Poland, and he became known for controversial and violent art-house films.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 22 November 1940
- Birthplace
- Lwów, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
- Died
- 17 February 2016
- Place of death
- Warsaw, Poland
- Occupation
- Film director; Novelist
- Years active
- 1971–2016
- Partner
- Sophie Marceau (1985–2001)
- Children
- 3, including Xawery Żuławski
Facts from the source article.
Biography
Żuławski was born in Lviv. His father, Mirosław Żuławski, was a Polish civil servant and later diplomat who had studied and worked in that city while it was part of the Second Polish Republic. Żuławski was an assistant to filmmaker Andrzej Wajda and studied at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques (IDHEC) in Paris and in the Department of Philosophy at the Sorbonne. When his second film The Devil was banned in Poland, he moved to France, where he made That Most Important Thing: Love (1975) with Romy Schneider. After returning to Poland he worked for two years on a film based on a book by his great-uncle Jerzy Żuławski, which the authorities did not allow him to finish (On the Silver Globe). He then lived and worked mostly in France, making art films. Described as a maverick who defied mainstream commercialism, his pictures received awards at various international film festivals. He also wrote several novels. In 2006 he was Head of the Jury at the 28th Moscow International Film Festival. Żuławski worked many times with composer Andrzej Korzyński, beginning with The Third Part of the Night (1971) and ending with Cosmos (2015), his last film. He died from cancer at a hospital in Warsaw.
Personal life
Żuławski's first wife was Barbara Baranowska, a member of the Polish School of Posters who created the French poster for Possession. Her first husband, Adolf Rudnicki, inspired the character Abe in the film. Żuławski had three sons from different relationships. One ex-wife was Małgorzata Braunek, a Polish film and stage actress; their son Xawery is also a film director. His relationship with painter Hanna Wolska produced a son named Ignacy. He was in a relationship with French actress Sophie Marceau for sixteen years, with whom he made four films and had a son named Vincent; they broke up in 2001. From 2007 to 2008 he dated Weronika Rosati. In 2010 he released a book titled Nocnik, which included a character allegedly based on Rosati; she sued him for violating her privacy and dignity, and he lost the case in 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Andrzej Żuławski born?
Andrzej Żuławski was born on 22 November 1940 in Lwów, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union.
When did Andrzej Żuławski die?
Andrzej Żuławski died on 17 February 2016 in Warsaw, Poland.
What did Andrzej Żuławski do?
Andrzej Żuławski was a film director and Novelist.
When was Andrzej Żuławski active?
Andrzej Żuławski was active from 1971 to 2016.
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