Director and screenwriter Janusz Kondratiuk died on Monday after suffering from a serious disease - the chairman of the Polish Filmmakers Association, Jacek Bromski, confirmed on Tuesday.
Janusz Kondratiuk was born in Ak-Bulak, in the then USSR, today Kazakhstan. In 1969 he graduated in directing at the Łódź Film School.
His talent emerged in his early television movies. The most recognised are "Dziewczyny do wzięcia" (Girls up for grabs) from 1972 and "Czy jest tu panna na wydaniu?" (Is there a bachelorette in here?) from 1976. In the latter, the script was co-written by the director's brother, Andrzej.
In the seventies, Kondratiuk brothers were often regarded as co-creators, and their movies seemed to have been made by one same person. They avoided complicated plots, preferred documentary-style films, emphasised actors' talent, their naturalness and artlessness.
Janusz Kondratiuk dedicated his last movie - "Jak pies z kotem" (Like cat and dog) - to the memory of his brother, Andrzej.
He suffered from pacreatic cancer, but despite his illness, he wouldn't stop smoking cigarettes.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP