STUDIES IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

Portrait of a Cinematographer (III) – Sławomir Idziak

The third part of the Portrait of a Cinematographer series tackles Sławomir Idziak, a famous Polish cinematographer with an international career. To this date, he has been linking directing and cinematography, technique and aesthetics, documentary and feature characteristics. Cooperating with Kieślowski, Zanussi, Wajda and others in Poland, and later with directors in Europe, Hollywood (Duigan, Sayles, Niccol, Hackford, Scott, Fuqua, Yates), Thailand, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Island and other countries, Idziak has always stood up for the position of cinematographers, for the respect of the vocation and cinematographers’ contribution to the overall appearance and value of specific films. What the author is specifically concerned with is Idziak’s exploration of colour that begins with Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Decalogue V and the position of European cinematographers – authors in American film industry (Black Hawk Down). He also writes in more detail about Kieślowski’s La double vie de Véronique.

Krešimir Mikić