Norman Jewison, between two Hollywoods

A major figure in American film from the 1960s to the 1990s, Canadian director Norman Jewison constructed a remarkably eclectic œuvre, delving in genres of romantic comedy, musicals, crime thrillers, courtroom dramas, science fiction or social drama –  with equal mastery. Starting his career in television, he retained a sharp sense of timing and narrative efficiency, using his elegant directing style to cultivate his characters and depict the great issues of his era. Racism, segregation, justice, power, religion, social struggles, tradition – he approached these themes with a profound curiosity about human nature, never sacrificing entertainment along the way. From In the Heat of the Night (1967) to Rollerball (1975), from The Cincinnati Kid  (1965) to Moonstruck  (1987), his films combined emotion, rigor, and a formidable sense of amusement. Working with the greatest actors of his time – from Steve McQueen to Faye Dunaway or Jane Fonda, from Sidney Poitier and Al Pacino to Cher – he directed many classics, including The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) – works that constitute the essential movie viewing list, and that all together won twelve Academy Awards. His body of work was accessible to all, and with a deeply humanist perspective, his intelligence of purpose never took precedence over the enjoyment of the ride.

We would like to thank Park Circus, and particularly the American studios (Universal Pictures US, Sony Pictures, MGM) for the new material created especially for the festival