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Walerian Borowczyk is a Director, Scriptwriter, Editor, Production Design and Animation Polonais born on 2 september 1923 at Kwilcz (Pologne)

Walerian Borowczyk

Walerian Borowczyk
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Nationality Pologne
Birth 2 september 1923 at Kwilcz (Pologne)
Death 3 february 2006 (at 82 years) at Paris (France)

Walerian Borowczyk (2 September 1923 – 3 February 2006) was an internationally known Polish film director described by film critics as a genius who also happened to be a pornographer (New York Times). He directed 40 films between 1946 and 1988. Borowczyk settled in Paris in 1959. His career as a film director was mainly in France.

Biography

Born in Kwilcz near Poznań, Borowczyk studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, then devoted himself to painting and lithography, including the creation of posters for the cinema, which earned him a national prize in 1953. His early films were surreal animations, some only a few seconds long, including several comic abecedaria. His most acclaimed early films were Był sobie raz (Time Upon a Once) (1957) and Dom (House) (1958, with Jan Lenica).



In 1959, Borowczyk emigrated to France and settled in Paris. He worked with Chris Marker for Les Astronautes. Major works of this period include the stop motion film Renaissance (1963), which uses reverse motion to depict various destroyed objects (a prayer book, a stuffed toy, etc.) re-assembling themselves, only to be destroyed again when the last object (a bomb) is complete, and the nightmarish Jeux des anges (1964), selected by Terry Gilliam as one of the ten best animated films of all time. In 1967, he directed his first animated feature film, Théâtre de Monsieur & Madame Kabal: un film dessiné pour les adultes (Mr. and Mrs. Kabal's Theatre).

Borowczyk moved into live-action feature film with Goto, l'île d'amour (Goto, Isle of Love) (1968) and Blanche (1971), both tales of illicit love thwarted by jealous husbands, and both starring his own wife, Ligia Branice. One of his most appreciated films of this period, Dzieje grzechu (A Story of Sin) (1975), which was nominated for Palme d'or, is an adaptation of a Polish literary classic by Stefan Żeromski. Like his 1966 short film Rosalie (a Guy de Maupassant adaptation and a Silver Bear winner), Dzieje grzechu had successfully rendered the themes of seduction and infanticide. Contes immoraux (Immoral Tales) (1974) and his later work, including Interno di un convento (Behind Convent Walls) (1977) (inspired by Promenades dans Rome of Stendhal) and Cérémonie d'amour (Rites of Love) (1988) have been controversial, lauded by some for their unique surrealist vision and derided by others as contentless pornography. Especially, La bête (The Beast, 1975) (based on the novel Lokis by Prosper Mérimée and originally conceived in 1972 as a film on its own, but then in 1974 as the fifth story in Contes immoraux) was seen by many as a decline in the director's career after Dzieje grzechu, except in France, where it was hailed by prominent critics such as Ado Kyrou. His 1980 film Lulu was based on the eponymous character created by Frank Wedekind.

In 1981, he made Docteur Jekyll et les femmes (Blood of Dr Jekyll), a version of the Jekyll and Hyde story starring Udo Kier and Patrick Magee and depicting Jekyll's transformation as a violent rebellion against the Victorian morality. In his 1988 book Nightmare Movies, Kim Newman described the film as "dark, misanthropic and interestingly offensive". He made a brief return to animation with his 1984 short film Scherzo infernal. In 1987, he directed Emmanuelle 5, an installment of the Emmanuelle series, that was also released in a hardcore video-only version. He was unhappy with the project due to a dispute concerning the casting of lead actress Monique Gabrielle. In 1988 and 1990, he directed four episodes for the series Série rose: Les Chefs d’œuvre de la littérature érotique on M6.

Many of Borowczyk's films use historical settings, including Ars Amandi: l'arte di amare (The Art of Love) (1983), set in the time of Ovid (and featuring the poet as a character); Blanche, set during the Middle Ages; and three of the four episodes in Contes immoraux, set respectively in the nineteenth century, the sixteenth century, and the Borgia papacy.

A number of his films (like the "tale" La Marée (The Tide) in Contes immoraux, the 1976 La Marge (The Streetwalker), the episode Marceline in Les Héroïnes du mal: Margherita, Marceline, Marie (Immoral Women) (1979), and Cérémonie d'amour were based on stories by André Pieyre de Mandiargues. A less usual product of this cooperation was Une collection particulière of 1973, a representation of Borowczyk's collection of pornographic items, with Mandiargues having written (and read) the narration.

Borowczyk was the author of two books; Anatomia diabła (Anatomy of Devil) (1992) and Moje polskie lata (My Polish Years) (2002).

He died of heart failure in Paris in 2006, aged 82.

Best films

Immoral Tales (1974)
(Director)

Usually with

Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Walerian Borowczyk (16 films)

Display filmography as list

Director

Emmanuelle 5, 1h25
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama, Erotic, Action, Pornographic
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Monique Gabrielle
Rating32% 1.633251.633251.633251.633251.63325
Emmanuelle (played by Monique Gabrielle) is a free-spirited woman who makes erotic arthouse films and runs a dance studio out of her loft in Paris.
The Art of Love, 1h40
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama, Erotic, Fantasy
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films
Actors Marina Pierro, Laura Betti, Michele Placido, Luis Bacalov, Massimo Girotti, Milena Vukotic
Rating44% 2.243072.243072.243072.243072.24307
Dans l'Antiquité, en l'an XIII du premier siècle de notre ère dans la mythique cité de Rome, plusieurs jeunes hommes décident de suivre l'enseignement du poête Ovide, afin d'apprendre l'art de séduire les femmes. Claudia, très belle femme brune, dont l'époux Marcarius est parti à la guerre, éprouve de la solitude. Cornelius, l'un des jeunes élèves d'Ovide, entreprend de tester sur elle ses connaissances. Mais la fourbe mère de Marcarius, aidée d'un perroquet espion, veille farouchement sur sa belle-fille. Cornélius finit cependant par conquérir Claudia. Marcarius découvre cet adultère et décide d'exercer sa vengeance sur Ovide.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne, 1h32
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Fantastic, Horror
Themes Films about sexuality, Rape in fiction, Serial killer films
Actors Udo Kier, Marina Pierro, Howard Vernon, Patrick Magee, Clément Harari, Rita Maiden
Rating60% 3.044493.044493.044493.044493.04449
Dr. Henry Jekyll (Udo Kier), where the doctor is being feted prior to his engagement to the austere Miss Fanny Osborne (Marina Pierro). The guests arrive and are various dignitaries and officials. After a meal, the doctor is summoned to his laboratory, to get his will. He returns to the living room when a scream is heard where one of his guests has been discovered raped and murdered.
Immoral Women, 1h54
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama, Erotic
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films
Actors Rosette, France Rumilly, Marina Pierro, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Pascale Christophe, Jean Martinelli
Rating52% 2.6076552.6076552.6076552.6076552.607655
The film is divided into three self-contained episodes, set in different time periods.
The Margin
The Margin (1976)
, 1h18
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films, Films about prostitution, Erotic thriller films
Actors Sylvia Kristel, Joe Dallesandro, André Falcon, Mireille Audibert, Dominique Marcas, Jean Lara
Rating52% 2.6155152.6155152.6155152.6155152.615515
Sigismond coule des jours heureux avec sa famille. Mais un voyage a Paris et la rencontre d'une fascinante prostituee vont bouleverser son existence.
The Beast
The Beast (1975)
, 1h33
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama, Erotic, Fantastic, Fantasy, Horror, Romance
Themes Films about animals, Films about magic and magicians, Films about sexuality, Rape in fiction, Erotic films, Wolves in film, Werewolves in film, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Sirpa Lane, Marcel Dalio, Roland Armontel, Lisbeth Hummel, Elisabeth Kaza, Guy Tréjan
Rating56% 2.848082.848082.848082.848082.84808
Wealthy businessman Philip Broadhurst dies and leaves his entire estate to his daughter Lucy on the condition that, within six
The Story of Sin, 2h10
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Genres Drama, Erotic, Romance
Actors Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Jerzy Zelnik, Marek Walczewski, Zdzisław Mrożewski, Zbigniew Zapasiewicz, Władysław Hańcza
Rating60% 3.047753.047753.047753.047753.04775
D’après le roman de Stefan Żeromski, Histoire d’un Péché est le seul film de fiction polonais de Borowczyk. Grażyna Długołęcka, dont ce sont les débuts, joue le rôle de Ewa Pobratyńska, héroïne victime condamnée à l’avance dont la passion pour un étudiant en anthropologie l’emmène dans un voyage périlleux au travers d’une Europe du début du XXe siècle. Vision critique de l’hypocrisie de l’Eglise Catholique, Histoire d’un Péché compte comme le film le plus passionné de Borowczyk. Tourné presqu’entièrement à l’épaule par le maitre Zygmunt Samosiuk (qui fait une brève apparition avec Borowczyk en travesti), Histoire d’un Péché est accompagné magnifiquement par le concerto pour violon de Mendelssohn. Il a remporté un grand succès public et critique en Pologne et à l’étranger. Sélection Officielle au Festival de Cannes 1975.
Immoral Tales, 1h43
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama, Erotic, Romance
Themes Films about families, Films about sexuality, Erotic films, LGBT-related films, Serial killer films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Charlotte Alexandra, Fabrice Luchini, Lise Danvers, Marie Forså, Pascale Christophe, Lisbeth Hummel
Rating56% 2.8047352.8047352.8047352.8047352.804735
The film is separated into four stories. The first story involves André (Fabrice Luchini) who takes his 16-year-old cousin (played by Lise Danvers) to the beach to perform fellatio on him in tune to the waves of the incoming tide. The second story is titled Thérése Philosophe and involves a teenage country girl (Charlotte Alexandra) who intermingles sexual desires in her imagination with her dedication to Christ after being locked in her room. The third story features Elizabeth Báthory (Paloma Picasso) as a countess who murders young girls in order to gain eternal youth by bathing in their blood. The final story involves the daughter of Pope Alexander VI, Lucrezia Borgia (Florence Bellamy), having sex with her male relatives.
Blanche
Blanche (1972)

Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama, Historical
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films
Actors Michel Simon, Ligia Branice, Georges Wilson, Jacques Perrin, Denise Péronne, Jean Gras
Rating64% 3.2390453.2390453.2390453.2390453.239045
Au douzième siècle, dans une zone reculée, un vieux seigneur dirige son château-fort, sa maisonnée, son domaine. Il vit avec sa très jeune épouse, et son jeune fils Nicolas, issu d'un premier mariage, encore célibataire. Entre Blanche et Nicolas se tressent des liens forts.
Goto, Island of Love, 1h33
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Drama
Themes Films about suicide, Political films, Films about capital punishment, Dystopian films
Actors Pierre Brasseur, Ligia Branice, Jean-Pierre Andréani, Ginette Leclerc, Fernand Bercher, Michel Charrel
Rating64% 3.2459553.2459553.2459553.2459553.245955
En 1887, subsiste une île au milieu de l'océan, coupée du monde après un séisme dévastateur. Les gouverneurs qui la dirigent veillent à ce que rien ne bouge. Mais Glossia, l'épouse du gouverneur Goto III, aime Gono, un officier jeune et beau. Ensemble ils préparent leur évasion. Mais Grozo, un condamné gracié désormais au service de Goto, est aussi amoureux de Glossia.
Theatre of Mr. and Mrs. Kabal, 1h20
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Comedy, Animation
Actors Louisette Rousseau, Pierre Collet
Rating61% 3.0972053.0972053.0972053.0972053.097205
Monsieur et Madame Kabal composent un couple horrible, bête et cruel : Monsieur Kabal, détestable gnome, imbécile et timoré, que son invraisemblable épouse, monstre au coeur de pierre, contraint à une situation d'esclave. Borowczyk est le chroniqueur de la vie quotidienne et de l'univers écrasant de cette femme robotisée. Histoire irracontable en somme, car ce théâtre tissé de petits faits et de détails anecdotiques est totalement absurde, issu de l'imagination étrange de son auteur et, cependant, curieusement vrai, voire réaliste.
Theatre of Mr. and Mrs. Kabal, 1h20
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Genres Comedy, Animation
Actors Louisette Rousseau, Pierre Collet
Rating61% 3.0972053.0972053.0972053.0972053.097205
Monsieur et Madame Kabal composent un couple horrible, bête et cruel : Monsieur Kabal, détestable gnome, imbécile et timoré, que son invraisemblable épouse, monstre au coeur de pierre, contraint à une situation d'esclave. Borowczyk est le chroniqueur de la vie quotidienne et de l'univers écrasant de cette femme robotisée. Histoire irracontable en somme, car ce théâtre tissé de petits faits et de détails anecdotiques est totalement absurde, issu de l'imagination étrange de son auteur et, cependant, curieusement vrai, voire réaliste.
Renaissance, 9minutes
Directed by Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Animation
Rating70% 3.531173.531173.531173.531173.53117
Des objets détruits par une explosion se recomposent jusqu'à ce qu'une nouvelle explosion se produise.
The Astronauts, 14minutes
Directed by Chris Marker, Walerian Borowczyk
Origin France
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Animation
Actors Michel Boschet, Ligia Branice, Philippe Lifchitz
Rating64% 3.243173.243173.243173.243173.24317
Dans une maison de banlieue tranquille, un inventeur du dimanche conçoit un vaisseau spatial. Aussitôt achevé, il décolle et part à l'aventure.
House
House (1959)

Directed by Walerian Borowczyk, Jan Lenica
Genres Animation
Actors Ligia Branice
Rating54% 2.7472852.7472852.7472852.7472852.747285
A woman (played by Borowczyk's wife Ligia Branice) has a series of surreal, dream-like hallucinations and encounters within the confines of a lonely apartment building. Some of these bizarre occurrences include various abstract objects appearing in a room, two men engaging in fencing and martial arts, a man entering and leaving a room repeatedly, and a living wig destroying several items on a table. The film ends with the woman passionately kissing a male mannequin's face before it crumbles to pieces.