Andrzej Zulawski, the Polish director behind cult classics such as Possession and On the Silver Globe, passed away on Wednesday. He was 75 years old.
In 2012, BAMcinématek held a retrospective of Zulawski’s work titled “Hysterical Excess.” That might be the best way to classify many of the director’s films regardless of the genre–unhinged, jagged, sexy, bonkers, grotesque; a tantrum, an orgasm, an unbridled shout. I remember seeing Possession for the first time in high school, not knowing what to make of it and also not being able to shake it off. I have never seen a movie quite like it since.
Below is the NSFW trailer for the “Hysterical Excess” retrospective to give newcomers to Zulawski a feel for his unique vision and what the world of idiosyncratic cinema has lost.
Zulawski’s final film, Cosmos, was picked up by Kino Lorber, which means it will eventually find a domestic release. If you live in New York, you can catch Cosmos as well as some other Zulawski films during Film Comment Selects at Lincoln Center, which starts tonight and runs through February 24th.
Flixist sends our condolences to Zulawski’s family and loved ones.
[via ABC News]
