Film: The Pianist
Wins for movie: Boston Society of Film Critics; National Society of Film Critics
Oscar wins/nominations:
Nominated for Best Screenplay Based on Material From Another Medium, Rosemary’s Baby (1969)
Nominated Best Director, Chinatown (1975)
Nominated Best Director, Tess (1981)
Bio: This internationally renowned filmmaker has become as notorious for his personal life as he is famous for his long, impressive career. His most recent, the much lauded The Pianist, draws upon his childhood experiences growing up Jewish in war-torn Poland, where he witnessed Nazi atrocities committed against his family and community. After narrow escaping the concentration camps Polanski started a filmmaking career that took him to Hollywood–unfortunately, tragedy followed him, when in 1968 the Manson family murdered his pregnant wife Sharon Tate and three of his friends. Nine years later, Polanski was embroiled in scandal for having sex with a minor, fled possible criminal prosecution in the States, and has lived and worked in exile ever since. If he wins an Oscar this year, he won’t be here to claim it.
