Remembering great film maker : Director Milos Foreman

Milos Foreman is one of the greatest filmmaker of world cinema, recently he passed away at the age of 86 years, Over 60 years of film making he directed only 16 films, he was so choosy about his work,  Milos Forman won two Oscars, for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest‘ and Amadeus.

Milos foreman is said to be non sentimental person in his life, he quoted “Everything I did in my life I did because I wanted to win. The will to win belongs to my essential motivational powers. However, winning is quite exhausting so the next thing, which always comes to my mind, is this: Fine, I have won, but that’s not it. Next time it’s going to be even harder.”

Milos Forman was born in 1932 into a teacher’s family in the small town of Caslav (Central Bohemian region) of Czeck . He was the youngest of three brothers. His father was a member of a resistance group against the Nazi occupation, and was arrested by the Gestapo when Milos was eight years old.

Forman attended a boarding school for war orphans in Podebrady, The theatre has fascinated Forman since childhood. The first time he experienced the world of theatre was during the war. His older brother Pavel worked as a painter in a barnstormer’s group called The East Bohemian Light Opera Company. Forman describes his first encounter with the world of show business.

Milos Forman was a New Wave filmmaker before immigrating to the United States, In 1974, Forman was given  an offer to direct a film adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. the film was a huge blockbuster and received Academy Awards in all the main categories.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was one of the longest running films in history of cinema especially sweedish film loving public had a regular option of  viewing it through 1987—11 years  after its initial release.

One flew over the cuckoo’s nest inspired many filmmakers around the world and even in Indian films the story was adapted.

His another masterpiece ‘Amadeus’  details the rise & fall of one of history’s magnificent composer Mozart’s life through the eyes of much talented another composer Antonio Salieri who had been in envy of the success of Mozart  Great acting, beautiful settings, nice costumes, dramatic plot, & outstanding music makes this film an epic to see. Won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture.

In order to make Amadeus a cinematic rather than theatrical experience, Milos Forman applies various technical means to convey emotion as well as information. One device that he uses often is a series of fast cuts from one scene to another it serves to  become a counterpart of the natural sequence of scenes flashing up in the old man’s memory.

He served as Jury head for prestigious Cannes Film festival and Venice film festival.

Milos Forman, who died on April 14 2018,  will be remembered as  A Rebel in His Time, and for the Future has left behind some of the most sharply observed portraits of human behavior in cinema he was  hailed as ‘Champion of Artists’ Rights’ by Directors Guild of America.

CJ Rajkumar

Auhtor/Cinematographer