Lech Majewski Movies

Lech Majewski directed this visually striking examination of the nexus between art and politics in the 16th century. In 1564, the Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel created one of his best-known and most controversial works, "The Procession to Calvary," in which Christ, carrying his cross, makes his way to his own crucifixion though a crowded landscape that features representations of hundreds of historic and contemporary figures. The painting was a biting commentary on political matters of the day as well as a satiric view of religion, and in The Mill & the Cross, Majewski re-creates the making of Bruegel's masterpiece, as the artist (played by Rutger Hauer) stages the images and explains their meanings while we learn more about the individuals depicted and the people who posed for the work, many of whom have their own stories to tell. Using digital imaging technology, The Mill & the Cross allows viewers to enter into Bruegel's painting as the static figures come to life. Also starring Charlotte Rampling and Michael York, The Mill & the Cross received its American premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Idiosyncratic Polish director Lech Majewski helmed this feature, which he adapted from his own novel Metaphysics. It concerns the romance that blossoms between an engineer named Chris (Chris Nightingale) and an art history expert named Claudine (Claudine Spiteri), who meet up and instantly fall into impassioned lust for one another. Before long, however, tragedy strikes in the form of a terminal illness that hits Claudine. She chooses to respond by spending her final days with Chris in Venice, against the backdrop of buildings and murals created by her favorite artist, Hieronymus Bosch. In that venue, Claudine acts as Chris's romantic, erotic and emotional guide, leading him down a pathway of intense seduction and theretofore unattained insights into himself and the nature of love. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Lech Majewski, a poet and screenwriter for Basquiat (1996), directs this stylized biopic of Polish rebel Rafal Wojaczek, who became the stuff of folklore after his spectacular 1971 suicide. Drunk and depressed, Wojaczek walks through windows, jumps from two story buildings, and gets into frequent fights. Though he has frequent sexual dalliances with the nursing staff during his recurrent trips to the hospital, his true love remains his poetry. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

In 1981, Ronald Biggs was kidnapped by agents from Scotland Yard from his Brazilian hideout for his participation in the 1964 British train robbery. This feature was written by Biggs and director Lech Majewski as a fictionalized account of the authorities trying to bring the colorful crook to justice. Paul Freeman plays Biggs, infamous for his participation in the $5 million heist dubbed "The Great Train Robbery". Jack McFarland (Steven Berkoff) is the Scotland Yard agent obsessed with apprehending Biggs and placing him on board a British navy ship bound for England. Nudity abounds in the final carnival scene as Biggs stays one step ahead of his captors. Colorful scenes of Rio are the highlight of this feature hampered by a thin script. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

The cast of medieval characters in this fantasy spans the traditional gamut between the chivalrous Knight (Piotr Skarga), the lovely Princess (Katarzyna Kozak), and a smattering of monks. Director Lech J. Majewski has made the difficult choice of filming his story entirely in verse. Complementing the poetry are stunning images of Medieval paintings and sculpture, along with the requisite scenery of idyllic forests and bucolic landscapes. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Andy Warhol was a phenomenon who warrants a lot of explaining: a completely colorless mega-star celebrity, and a kind of LaBrea Tarpit for a vivid and talented collection of oddballs in the New York scene. He fostered their continued degeneration into weird lifestyles and heavy drug use; and at the same time acted as their mentor, agent, and sponsor. One artist who came to be part of Warhol's "scene" was Jean Michel Basquiat, an antisocial street-bum who went from writing graffiti on alley walls to being the toast of New York City's art world. This film biography chronicles the progression of Basquiat (Jeffrey Wright) and his progression from living in cardboard boxes to penthouses, his romances, his drug use, and his death in 1988 at age 27. Along the way, he never stopped detesting the rich, including art agent Bruno Bischofberger (Dennis Hopper), and he never lost his naivete. Warhol (David Bowie) picks up some of the pieces as Basquiat lurches through the art scene. Cameo appearances by Tatum O'Neal and Courtney Love add spice to this interesting film. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi