Most of us have heard of Milos Forman, or at least his films. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, adapted from Ken Kesey’s novel, won all five major Academy Awards in 1975. Hair, now a cult classic, was nominated for two Golden Globes. And Amadeus, about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, won eight — yes, eight — Oscars. Certainly Forman has met with great success since leaving Prague for the United States in 1968. But what we may not know about him are his accomplishments prior to that move.
Born Jan Tomás Forman, the Czech filmmaker lost his parents to a Nazi concentration camp, in Auschwitz no less. After studying film at the School of Cinema in Prague, Forman kicked off the Czech New Wave with a new style of comedy — dark and absurd comedy, presenting a satirical view of everyday life. Forman’s The Firemen’s Ball, a major film of the genre, remains a cult classic after more than three decades. This month, the Walker offers a retrospective of his work, from the 1960s to his latest film, Goya’s Ghost, which he both wrote and directed. Plus, meet the director himself on April 12th.
Walker Art Center, Cinema,1750 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-375-7600; $8 per film.
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