Barbara Lass

An interview with film director Roman Polanski conducted during his period of house arrest, discussing his life and work.

Roman Polanski lived in Cracow/Krakow during 1936-1955 - almost 20 years of his life. These years formed him to become one of the most popular film directors of the world. The title of the documentary refers to Roman Polanski's autobiography "Roman by Polanski". By the end of 1930's Cracow/Krakow 250 000 inhabitants, about 50 000 were Jews. It was one of the happiest time in young Roman's life. WWII made him leave the Cracow ghetto and he was hidden by a Polish family near the city. After the war till 1955, it was not only the hard Stalin's time but also the time when young Roman discovered his passion for art, especially the cinema. In these times he played in social realistic plays in Young Spectator Theatre and in puppet plays in Groteska Theatre, Cracow. Finally he left Cracow for Lodz in 1955 to study directing at the Film Academy.

A trusting, naive police officer is prepared to follow the ever new ideas and quirks of his spirited, enthusiastic wife out of honest conviction. However, he cannot keep up with the pace of her willingness to turn to the next new thing. As a result, he is condemned to always do the wrong thing in his love, so that in the end the only refuge left to him is a mental asylum.

Polish socialist and Marxist Rosa Luxemburg works tirelessly in the service of revolution in early 20th century Poland and Germany. While Luxemburg campaigns for her beliefs, she is repeatedly imprisoned as she forms the Spartacist League offering a new vision for Germany.

An internist is accused of murdering the sixth of his seven wives. During the court hearing, numerous statements, especially those made by his former wives, confront him with his past. Finally acquitted, the doctor loses himself in feelings of deepest guilt and confusion as he searches for the truth about himself. The strict film adaptation of the novel by Max Frisch (1982).

Ines and Hans try to save their crumbling marriage with a vacation trip. With three children, the grandmother, and some hamsters in the overloaded car to Sardinia.

When 17-year-old Effi Briest marries the elderly Baron von Instetten, she moves to a small, isolated Baltic town and a house that she fears is haunted. Starved for companionship, Effi begins a friendship with Major Crampas, a charismatic womanizer.

Two ambitious men - one a self-described director, another a self-described writer, meet on a train to Zakopane and decide to make a movie together.

No plot available for this movie.

A former U-boat commander becomes a pastor to ease the suffering of young Hamburg women in trouble.