Kawalerowicz, Jerzy

Born Jan. 19, 1922, in Gvozdets, Ukraine. Polish film director.

Kawalerowicz graduated from the Film Institute in 1946 and from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków in 1948. His first film, The Commune (1952, with K. Sumerski), dealt with socialist agrarian reforms in Poland. Among his most important films are the historical and revolutionary film Cellulose (1954; Soviet version, Road to Life), based on J. Newerly’s novel Memories of a Cellulose Factory, and its sequel Under the Phrygian Star (1954); Mother Joan of the Angels (1961; based on J. Iwaszkiewicz’s play of the same title), a philosophical film about individual freedom and an attack on dogmatism and intolerance; and The Pharaoh (1965), based on B. Prus’ novel. Kawalerowicz’s films have received prizes at international film festivals in Karlovy Vary and Cannes. Between 1955 and 1968 he was the artistic director of the artists’ association Kadr (Frame), and since 1966 he has served as chairman of the Polish Union of Cinematographers. He was awarded the State Prize of the Polish People’s Republic in 1950 and 1955.