Walerian Borowczyk: Polish animator and director of erotica during the 1970s
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Controversial Polish director Walerian Borowczyk died of heart failure
at age 82. Walerian Borowczyk began his career as a respected animator.
He produced animated short films for nearly 20 years before turning to
live action features. Mr. Borowczyk directed five films in the late 60s
and early 70s that challenged the sensibilities of moviegoers
worldwide. Borowczyk explored the new freedom and pushed the borders of
cinematic sexuality. His films "Goto, Island of Love," "Blanche,"
"Immoral Tales," "The Story of a Sin" and especially "The Beast"
brought, if for just a short time, Walerian Borowczyk to the forefront
of world directors. As the 70s wore on, Mr. Borowczyk's work lost its
spark and he turned out sub-par erotica. "Immoral Tales" involved four
individual stories. The third tale starred Pablo Picasso's daughter
as a character based on Elisabeth of Bathory, a noble woman who believe
she would remain young forever if she bathed in the blood of virgins.
Ingrid Pitt starred in the Hammer version of the story: "Countess
Dracula." Mr. Borowczyk's most controversial film was "The Beast."
Based in part on "Beauty and the Beast," the film was originally
supposed to be part of "Immoral Tales." Borowczyk expanded the story to
a feature length film. It was banned in some countries for the visuals
of a beast having sex with the female characters in the movie.
Sometimes it was rape and at other times, it was consensual. No matter,
Borowczyk crossed a boundary that many viewers and censors thought went
too far. His film "The Story of a Sin" was nominated for the Golden
Palm at Cannes in 1975. "Blanche" won the Gran Prix at the 1972 Berlin
International Film Festival. Mr. Borowczyk was nominated for a BAFTA
for his short animated film "Dom."