Irish Film Institute -FOCUS ON ROMAN POLANSKI

FOCUS ON ROMAN POLANSKI

JANUARY 4TH – 26TH 

In an interview with critic Max Tessier in 1979, Polanski described a fundamental principle underpinning his work. “Emotion,” he proclaimed, “is the main thing in all art. Art has to move, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.”

Polanski’s perception of the importance of impact goes a long way towards understanding his success in terms of his enduring international appeal, and his ability to cater both for art-house and mainstream audiences. It is also one of the few characteristics that unifies his work, where much variety in style and theme exists elsewhere, something that this season of films, prompted by the BFI’s re-issue of two of his most celebrated works – Repulsion (1965) and Chinatown (1974) –  clearly demonstrates.

However, there are some attributes that recur in Polanski’s output; a tendency towards violence and the macabre; an obvious affection for the absurd (most hilariously captured in Cul-de-Sac (1966), apparently the director’s favourite of his own films), and perhaps most significantly, the use of claustrophobic space, something explored in depth in the so-called ‘Apartment Trilogy’ also showing here this month.

A profoundly influential, controversial figure, who, at 79, is still hard at work, there is no better time to view or review these classics.

Introduction and notes on individual films by Alice Butler.

Programme

  • CHINATOWN
    • Friday 4th January 2013
      13.00|18.10
    • Saturday 5th January 2013
      18.00
    • Sunday 6th January 2013
      18.10
    • Monday 7th January 2013
      13.00|18.10
    • Tuesday 8th January 2013
      13.00|18.10
    • Wednesday 9th January 2013
      13.00|18.10
    • Thursday 10th January 2013
      13.00|20.40
    • Friday 11th January 2013
      13.10|18.10
    • Saturday 12th January 2013
      13.00|18.00
    • Sunday 13th January 2013
      18.10
    • Monday 14th January 2013
      13.10|18.10
    • Tuesday 15th January 2013
      13.10|18.40
    • Wednesday 16th January 2013
      13.10|18.10
    • Thursday 17th January 2013
      13.10|18.10
  • KNIFE IN THE WATER
    • Saturday 5th January 2013
      14.10
  • CUL-DE-SAC
    • Sunday 6th January 2013
      13.20
  • REPULSION
    • Friday 11th January 2013
      16.00|20.50
    • Saturday 12th January 2013
      19.00
    • Sunday 13th January 2013
      16.10
    • Monday 14th January 2013
      13.00|15.00
    • Tuesday 15th January 2013
      13.00|15.00
    • Wednesday 16th January 2013
      13.00|15.00
    • Thursday 17th January 2013
      13.00|15.00|21.00
  • TESS
    • Sunday 13th January 2013
      13.00
  • THE TENANT
    • Tuesday 15th January 2013
      18.20
  • ROSEMARY’S BABY
    • Wednesday 23rd January 2013
      20.00
  • THE PIANIST
    • Saturday 26th January 2013
      13.50

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