Philosophy
Shortly before Knife in the Water, Roman Polanski did three short films.
Wikipedia...
...a short film written and directed by Roman Polanski in 1957. According to Roman Polanski's autobiography, the film was a stunt which nearly got him thrown out of Lodz film school; Polanski had organized a groups of "Thugs" to go to a school dance and begin disrupting it. As the band played "When the Saints Go Marching In," some students were actually beaten up. The ironic alternate title is "Break Up the Dance".
IMDb...
A small and thin barefoot slave (played by Polanski) plays a flute and beats a drum to entertain his large master who rocks in a rocking chair in front of his mansion. The slave jumps and leaps like a madman, wipes his master's brow, feeds him, washes his feet, shades him from the sun with an umbrella and holds a urinal for him.
IMDb reviewer, debblyst, wrote...
Influenced by Beckett, Kafka and Buster Keaton, this delightful absurdist short comedy already showcases Polanski's trademark black humor, acid sarcasm, great sense of rhythm (helped by Krzysztof Komeda's music) and very personal visual style. "Le Gros..." was obviously meant as a virulent attack on Stalinist regimes (including, of course, the Polish Communist Party) and their tactics of usurpation and exploitation for enduring in power. In this short made in France (his first work outside Poland), Polanski profits from his newfound freedom of expression to make sarcastic criticisms about the Stalinist modus operandi, and avows his fascination with Western capitalism (i.e. the sight of Paris). Coherently, after the international success of his first feature "Knife in Water" the following year, Polanski left Poland for good and conquered Europe and America, not returning to film in his native country until 40 years later with his Cannes+Oscar winner "The Pianist".
Wikipedia...
The film features two men, played by Jakub Goldberg and Henryk Kluba, who emerge from the sea carrying a large wardrobe, which they proceed to carry into a town. Carrying the wardrobe, the two encounter a series of hostile events, including being attacked by a group of youths (one of whom is played by Polanski himself). Finally, they arrive back at a beach and then disappear in the sea.
joNNi, an IMDb reviewer, wrote...
One of his earliest films, at 25 years old, Polanski is still exploring the best way to shock the audience, engross the audience, AND serve them a feast of the unconventional. Perceptive, witty and occasionally downright nasty (see the theatrical 'murder' in the river as the two heroes blithely carry the wardrobe along the bank), Polanski's trademark weirdness is still embryonic but ultimately satisfies. An oddity, yes, and a must see for anyone who cherishes dreams of film school.
Polanski...the crime...the judicial system?
- I Am Serious, And Don't Call Me Shirley
My Fellow Comedists, We have a wonderful video store, a dying breed, the sort where you can still rent video tapes and can find movies you haven't seen in twenty years that you loved back when. Looking through the stacks, I came across the DVD of...
- Deceased--amos Vogel
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- Bill Speare's "othello" Via Orson Welles
This is a documentary of Orson Welles' filming of Shakespeare's Othello. Internet Archive... Filming Othello is a 1978 documentary film directed by and starring Orson Welles about the making of his award-winning 1952 production Othello. The film,...
- Deceased--adolfas Mekas
Adolfas Mekas [center] September 30th, 1925 to May 31st, 2011 I only recall seeing two of his films...Hallelujah the Hills [1963] and the The Brig [1964)]..."A ultra-realistic depiction of life in a Marine Corps brig (or jail) at a camp in Japan in 1957....
- Polanski...the Crime...the Judicial System?
It looks like the case against Roman Polanski has mutated beyond the actual crime into a matter of law. The United States has been refused extradition by the Swiss government. Here is why... "Why the Swiss Won't Extradite Polanski" by Bruce Crumley...
Philosophy
Three Roman Polanski shorts
Shortly before Knife in the Water, Roman Polanski did three short films.
Rozbijemy Zabawe
1957
1957
Wikipedia...
...a short film written and directed by Roman Polanski in 1957. According to Roman Polanski's autobiography, the film was a stunt which nearly got him thrown out of Lodz film school; Polanski had organized a groups of "Thugs" to go to a school dance and begin disrupting it. As the band played "When the Saints Go Marching In," some students were actually beaten up. The ironic alternate title is "Break Up the Dance".
The Fat and the Lean
Le Gros et le Maigre
1961
Le Gros et le Maigre
1961
IMDb...
A small and thin barefoot slave (played by Polanski) plays a flute and beats a drum to entertain his large master who rocks in a rocking chair in front of his mansion. The slave jumps and leaps like a madman, wipes his master's brow, feeds him, washes his feet, shades him from the sun with an umbrella and holds a urinal for him.
IMDb reviewer, debblyst, wrote...
Influenced by Beckett, Kafka and Buster Keaton, this delightful absurdist short comedy already showcases Polanski's trademark black humor, acid sarcasm, great sense of rhythm (helped by Krzysztof Komeda's music) and very personal visual style. "Le Gros..." was obviously meant as a virulent attack on Stalinist regimes (including, of course, the Polish Communist Party) and their tactics of usurpation and exploitation for enduring in power. In this short made in France (his first work outside Poland), Polanski profits from his newfound freedom of expression to make sarcastic criticisms about the Stalinist modus operandi, and avows his fascination with Western capitalism (i.e. the sight of Paris). Coherently, after the international success of his first feature "Knife in Water" the following year, Polanski left Poland for good and conquered Europe and America, not returning to film in his native country until 40 years later with his Cannes+Oscar winner "The Pianist".
Two Men and a Wardrobe
Dwaj Ludzie z Szafa
1958
Dwaj Ludzie z Szafa
1958
Wikipedia...
The film features two men, played by Jakub Goldberg and Henryk Kluba, who emerge from the sea carrying a large wardrobe, which they proceed to carry into a town. Carrying the wardrobe, the two encounter a series of hostile events, including being attacked by a group of youths (one of whom is played by Polanski himself). Finally, they arrive back at a beach and then disappear in the sea.
joNNi, an IMDb reviewer, wrote...
One of his earliest films, at 25 years old, Polanski is still exploring the best way to shock the audience, engross the audience, AND serve them a feast of the unconventional. Perceptive, witty and occasionally downright nasty (see the theatrical 'murder' in the river as the two heroes blithely carry the wardrobe along the bank), Polanski's trademark weirdness is still embryonic but ultimately satisfies. An oddity, yes, and a must see for anyone who cherishes dreams of film school.
Polanski...the crime...the judicial system?
- I Am Serious, And Don't Call Me Shirley
My Fellow Comedists, We have a wonderful video store, a dying breed, the sort where you can still rent video tapes and can find movies you haven't seen in twenty years that you loved back when. Looking through the stacks, I came across the DVD of...
- Deceased--amos Vogel
Amos Vogel April 18th, 1921 to April 24th, 2012 "Amos Vogel, Champion of Films, Dies at 91" by Bruce Weber April 28th, 2012 The New York TimesAmos Vogel, who exerted an influence on the history of film that few other non-filmmakers can claim, founding...
- Bill Speare's "othello" Via Orson Welles
This is a documentary of Orson Welles' filming of Shakespeare's Othello. Internet Archive... Filming Othello is a 1978 documentary film directed by and starring Orson Welles about the making of his award-winning 1952 production Othello. The film,...
- Deceased--adolfas Mekas
Adolfas Mekas [center] September 30th, 1925 to May 31st, 2011 I only recall seeing two of his films...Hallelujah the Hills [1963] and the The Brig [1964)]..."A ultra-realistic depiction of life in a Marine Corps brig (or jail) at a camp in Japan in 1957....
- Polanski...the Crime...the Judicial System?
It looks like the case against Roman Polanski has mutated beyond the actual crime into a matter of law. The United States has been refused extradition by the Swiss government. Here is why... "Why the Swiss Won't Extradite Polanski" by Bruce Crumley...