The best of Roman Polanski

Known for his captivating and dark thrillers, (and infamous for a rape allegation in the US, that has him on the run ever since), Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski has inspired many filmmakers across the globe with his works. The Enlighten Film Society has organised a one-day festival screening three masterpieces by the controversial filmmaker from three different periods in his career - Rosemary's Baby (1968), Chinatown (1974) and The Pianist (2002). The festival is scheduled to take place at the Russian Centre.

A still from Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary's Baby was Polanski's first Hollywood production, and earned him an Academy Award nomination for the Best Screenplay. The film was adapted from the horror novel by the same name. Written by Ira Levin, it tells the story of a young housewife who is impregnated by the devil.

The second film on offer, Chinatown, is considered to be one of the finest American crime movies. The film marked Polanski's return to Hollywood and received 11 Academy Award nominations.

Filmmaker Roman Polanski

The Pianist, the final film at the festival, on the other hand, is an adaptation of the World War II autobiography by the same name, by Polish-Jewish musician Wladyslaw Szpilman. The film also offers insight into Polanski's life and his experiences of surviving the WWII in Poland.