Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer, and actor. Born on August 18, 1933, in Paris, France, as Rajmund Roman Liebling, he spent much of his early life in Poland. His early years were marked by significant personal tragedy, including the loss of his family during the Holocaust.
Polanski's career began in Poland where he studied at the National Film School in Lodz. His first feature film, Knife in the Water (1962), was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, showcasing his early talent and gaining international attention.
After moving to the UK and then to the United States, Polanski achieved international acclaim with films like:
Polanski's life has been fraught with controversy:
Since his flight, Polanski has lived in France and Switzerland, where he has continued to make films, although his legal status has prevented him from traveling to countries where he might be extradited to the United States. His more recent works include:
Despite the controversies, Polanski's contribution to cinema is significant, with his work often exploring themes of paranoia, existentialism, and the darker sides of human nature. His films have influenced many directors and have been subjects of extensive academic study.
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