Piotr Sobocinski
Encyclopedia
Piotr Sobociński (ˈpjɔtr sɔbɔˈt͡ɕiɲskʲi; February 3, 1958 – March 26, 2001) was one of the most respected cinematographer
s ever to come from Poland
, picking up where his father, legendary Polish cinematographer, Witold Sobociński
, left off. He was nominated for Academy Award for Best Cinematography
for Three Colours: Red
in 1994.
, as a youngster, Sobociński felt lead in his father's footsteps. He studied at the National Film School in Łódź and earned his degrees in 1987.
in many films, starting with The Decalogue
(Dekalog) (1988) and culminating with his final film, Three Colours: Red
(1994), for which Sobociński won his first award 'The Silver Frog Award' at Camerimage, Poland’s International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography and an Oscar nomination also in 1994. In the following year, he won the Golden Frog award for The Seventh Room, and in 1997 he received a Golden Frog nomination for Marvin’s Room.
His career was hitting a peak in the mid-1990s when he was asked by Ron Howard
to work on the film Ransom starring Mel Gibson
and Rene Russo
. He went on to work on more big movies and his career looked like it was going to go on for a long time. However, while filming Trapped (aka 24 Hours) in 2001, he suffered a massive heart attack
and died in his sleep in Vancouver, British Columbia , and was buried at the Powazki Cemetery
Warsaw
, Poland .
He was survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter and his father Witold, who is retired from the film business.
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
s ever to come from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, picking up where his father, legendary Polish cinematographer, Witold Sobociński
Witold Sobocinski
Witold Sobocinski is a Polish cinematographer, academic teacher as well as former jazz musician...
, left off. He was nominated for Academy Award for Best Cinematography
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture.-History:...
for Three Colours: Red
Three Colours: Red
Three Colors: Red is a 1994 film co-written, produced, and directed by Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski. It is the final film of The Three Colors Trilogy, which examines the French Revolutionary ideals; it is preceded by Blue and White. Kieślowski had announced that this would be his final...
in 1994.
Early life
Born in 1958, in Łódź, PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, as a youngster, Sobociński felt lead in his father's footsteps. He studied at the National Film School in Łódź and earned his degrees in 1987.
Career
He worked with noted Polish director, Krzysztof KieślowskiKrzysztof Kieslowski
Krzysztof Kieślowski was an Academy Award nominated influential Polish film director and screenwriter, known internationally for The Double Life of Veronique and his film cycles The Decalogue and Three Colors.-Early life:...
in many films, starting with The Decalogue
The Decalogue
The Decalogue is a 1989 Polish television drama series directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski and co-written by Kieślowski with Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with music by Zbigniew Preisner...
(Dekalog) (1988) and culminating with his final film, Three Colours: Red
Three Colours: Red
Three Colors: Red is a 1994 film co-written, produced, and directed by Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski. It is the final film of The Three Colors Trilogy, which examines the French Revolutionary ideals; it is preceded by Blue and White. Kieślowski had announced that this would be his final...
(1994), for which Sobociński won his first award 'The Silver Frog Award' at Camerimage, Poland’s International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography and an Oscar nomination also in 1994. In the following year, he won the Golden Frog award for The Seventh Room, and in 1997 he received a Golden Frog nomination for Marvin’s Room.
His career was hitting a peak in the mid-1990s when he was asked by Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
to work on the film Ransom starring Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
and Rene Russo
Rene Russo
- Early life :Russo was born in Burbank, California, the daughter of Shirley , a factory worker and barmaid, and Nino Russo, a sculptor and car mechanic who left the family when Rene was two. Her father and maternal grandfather were of Italian descent. Russo grew up with her sister, Toni, and their...
. He went on to work on more big movies and his career looked like it was going to go on for a long time. However, while filming Trapped (aka 24 Hours) in 2001, he suffered a massive heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and died in his sleep in Vancouver, British Columbia , and was buried at the Powazki Cemetery
Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland .
He was survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter and his father Witold, who is retired from the film business.
On himself
Filmography
- Trapped (aka 24 Hours) (2002)
- Angel EyesAngel Eyes (film)Angel Eyes is a 2001 romantic drama film directed by Luis Mandoki. The original music score was composed by Marco Beltrami and features Jennifer Lopez, James Caviezel, Jeremy Sisto, and Terrence Howard. Lopez's performance in the film earned her a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actress.-Plot:The...
(2001) - Hearts In AtlantisHearts in Atlantis (film)Hearts in Atlantis is a 2001 American/Australian drama thriller directed by Scott Hicks. It is loosely adapted from Stephen King's novella "Low Men in Yellow Coats", from his story collection Hearts in Atlantis.-Plot:...
(2001) - TwilightTwilight (1998 film)Twilight is a 1998 thriller/Neo-noir film directed by Robert Benton. It stars Paul Newman, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Reese Witherspoon, Stockard Channing, and James Garner...
(1998) - Ransom (1996)
- Marvin's Room (1996)
- La Settima Stanza (1995)
- Three Colours: RedThree Colours: RedThree Colors: Red is a 1994 film co-written, produced, and directed by Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski. It is the final film of The Three Colors Trilogy, which examines the French Revolutionary ideals; it is preceded by Blue and White. Kieślowski had announced that this would be his final...
(1994) - Lawa (1989)
- Pension Sonnenschein (1989)
- The Decalogue (1988)
- Zjoek (1987)
- Magnet (1987)
Awards
- 1994: Academy Award for Best CinematographyAcademy Award for Best CinematographyThe Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture.-History:...
: Three Colours: RedThree Colours: RedThree Colors: Red is a 1994 film co-written, produced, and directed by Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski. It is the final film of The Three Colors Trilogy, which examines the French Revolutionary ideals; it is preceded by Blue and White. Kieślowski had announced that this would be his final...
: Nominated
External links
- Piotr Sobociński at Allmovie.
- Piotr Sobociński at cinematographers.nl.
- Piotr Sobociński at Internet Database of Polish Films