Jerzy Skolimowski's Closet Picks

While in New York for the release of his new film EO-Poland’s official entry for Best International Film at the 95th Academy Awards®-legendary director Jerzy Skolimowski stopped by Criterion for a trip inside our films closet! Check it out and head here for tickets and showtimes: eo.official.film eo.official.film
Shop Jerzy's Closet Picks:
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[@sheungmanyim]

You know he's legendary when some classics he picked were made by his friends. And the anecdote with Fellini. What a life, Mr. Skolimowski!

[@iij973]

The unique rhythm of his speech is both poetic and enchanting

[@ThePictoucounty]

Well. Feel pretty confident in saying this will probably be the only closet episode with a story about getting slapped around by Milos Forman as a 10 year old

[@benthehumaniac]

It's a normal thing, you know, in Czech Republic. Milos Forman just slaps you.

[@PeterSmith-go9ef]

An enchanting man and major director. So glad to see him chose Diamonds Of The Night, a largely undiscovered gem.

[@HerbalistGuybrush]

This was one of the best episodes to me. The innocent joy on his face when remembering a childhoods moment made me a little bit less of a cynic today.

[@nicklager1666]

You can almost read between the lines that growing up behind the iron curtain you had a different perspective on things. So much of what life was like was hard for us in west to fully grasp, but thanks to the great film makers in eastern europe like Jerzy we could get a glimpse.

[@ramomate1705]

Diamonds of the Night 0:24 Ashes and Diamonds 0:36 Come and See 0:54 Ivan's childhood 1:10 La strada 1:47 8 1/2 1:53 Loves of a blonde 3:14

[@fiarandompenaltygeneratorm5044]

Premium picks. Skolimowski knows what's up.

[@zaphyra-]

thank you ritsuko and garfield profile pic guy

[@fiarandompenaltygeneratorm5044]

@@bwlboy123 No, it's not. Stop politicizing everything. It's pathetic. As if his choices weren't among the greatest films of all time...

[@lukderk]

cool

[@fiarandompenaltygeneratorm5044]

@@bwlboy123 Exactly. You're a myopic hypocrite.

[@Sageisme]

Best closet picks episode ever! Amazing director AND screenwriter, he wrote Knife on the water!!!

[@ElliotCoen]

Jerzy made a film 52 years ago called Deep End. It’s very good, seek it out!

[@vittoriostoraro]

It needs a Criterion Release.

[@砂糖市-d6q]

400 blows and Deep End. Taxi Driver's major source material not many people realize about. Skolimowski is living legend.

[@thehurrytheharm]

It was an influence on David Lynch!

[@tiananesbitt7156]

Thanks 😊

[@ganazby]

@@vittoriostoraro BFI released an excellent blu ray version a few years ago.

[@pnwtreehugger806]

Thank YOU Mr. Skolimowski for sharing your talent and your anecdotes with us as well as forgiving us this glimpse into which films have meaning for you.

[@gavinhenderson7250]

That was very sweet. Genuinely moving.

[@albyz86]

"We'll see each other up there... Thank you" ❤️

[@lukess.s]

He's so fucking good in Eastern Promises

[@jacksonwright5145]

I just watched EO the other day and was awed by the beautiful imagery and the humanity of it all. Fantastic film. He has great stories to tell!

[@somniansvulpes]

Thank you Jerzy for existing

[@barnziee]

I've never heard of Jerzy, and not familiar with a few of those movies. Yet this was one of the best closet picks yet. Hearing those old stories was so wonderful.

[@rafaelfernandeslopesdeoliv1700]

Please please do yourself a favor and watch his films Walkover (1964), Deep End (1971), Moonlighting (1982) and Success Is The Best Revenge (1984). He is truly one of the greatest.

[@juliyathejelly]

I had the immense pleasure of being at a screening of EO last night and it was mesmerizing. Highly recommend!

[@TubeSteak]

This was a profound Closet Picks

[@femmeweird]

Jerzy gave me one of my dearest films, Deep End. I'm forever thankful for that.

[@barrymoore4470]

It's one of my favorite films as well.

[@fanorama1]

agreed

[@cosimocub]

Skolimowski is the best and he doesn't disappoint. truly a refined human being

[@dj.giftedchild]

I'd like to have a chitchat with him in his house. With just a cup of coffee and a videocamera to record the interview

[@_diogo_lima]

A very special director for me, and even this year made the best movie of 2022, EO. Love you Jerzy!

[@vittoriostoraro]

Very moving. A fine filmmaker and a lovely man.

[@zahaanhoosein6511]

it’d be insane if this was *the* vittorio storaro replying lol

[@bluerev]

Jerzy knows a thing or two about great endings. The ending of Deep End was just brilliant.

[@AhmadAneeq]

i mean the movie is called Deep END

[@thelurningcurve6378]

EO is such a wonderfully poetic piece of cinema. Makes sense that he would choose the films he shares.

[@1997residente]

Fun fact: He is the general interrogating Black widow in Avengers (2012) No joking: That's how i discovered him and his filmography

[@heliumtrophy]

I remember my parents are watching that and I see him there and all I could think is "what's he doing there?" Must've got a decent pay packet.

[@heliumtrophy]

Hearing a little about his Czech schooling was fascinating. I read some articles in old Positif magazines about how they didn't know whether to see him as a Polish director or a Czech director due to his schooling. I think these things mattered, especially there, since many in Poland believed for example that because Andrzej Zulawski was schooled in France, he was French. Definitely can go a long way into developing an outlook on life.

[@marthalynx7941]

Skolimowski as a kid was living in Czech republic because his mother was working there. But he graduated polish movie school. Also he never did movie in Czech language so he definitley is not a Czech director, he was just living there for couple of years as a boy but for sure this experience influenced him as an artist and as a man.

[@zerocz8655]

"Give you pár facek" love that man ❤🇨🇿

[@jeshkam]

"Hajzle jeden!" 😂

[@tungngoctran2718]

pár facek :D so glad to hear in Closet picks czech language, velmi děkuji za skvělé video a nashledanou. :) And for other viewers what pár facek mean is couple of slaps :D

[@General_Puffball]

What a great vibe this guy has.

[@tommyt1971]

Never heard of Jerzy until I saw Eastern Promises -- he was really, REALLY good in that one in a small part.

[@FONZARELLI4REALLY]

:56 "Come and see is not the proper translation I think the proper one is 'look and realize what you have just seen'"-- that is absolutely fascinating, that title makes a lot more sense.

[@sevendaughters]

Skolimowski's The Shout would be the film I'd happily wander into a wardrobe and come out with.

[@rafaelfernandeslopesdeoliv1700]

I hope this means the trilogy is coming to criterion. Walkower is an absolute masterpiece. This man is a legend and when of the last greatest living filmmakers.

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

Ivan's Childhood is possibly the most saddest yet at time beauitful films I have ever seen. Certainly one of the best Russian films ever made. The cinematography is stunning and the performances perfect. It is heartbreaking at the end but then it also leaves the viewer with poignant feeling for the boy and others. This film stays with you for life and definitely has a lot to say and for us to learn from.

[@drewsimpson5967]

Great video of a great director. In my bag, The Shout (1978) is always in there.

[@chrisperry7963]

Such a great figure in film history. Love, love, 'Moonlighting', so much to unwrap in that masterwork.

[@niepoczytalna122]

Such a bright mind in this age. Polish master.

[@adamschoch6938]

Liked Jerzy in White Nights as Colonial Chaiko. My favorite character from that movie. Influenced me to take Russian in college. Saw White Nights at age 10 and signed up for Russian language class 10 years later!

[@SirAndrewII]

First of all Jerzy is a cool name. Second, his story about Fellini is so humble. I was at a party with a great man and I got to observe his personality, who says that?

[@reflectingsoul]

I like his films 'Shout' and 'Ferdydurke'. These are very original and unpredictable movies.

[@Dumballa]

Guys this was truly wonderful. But it would be tremendous if we could get an unedited version. Lot of cuts. Feel like we missed what he was saying a few times. Anyway great job.

[@theakwardactor9788]

would love to see one of these with Olivia Hussy and Leonard Whiting just before the criterion release of Romeo and Juliet in February 😊

[@Rakib.Islam.E]

One of the best closet moment ♥

[@jameslane8592]

Na schladeno, Milose. That was so touching

[@MegaLaurabailey]

A Master filmmaker sharing his great memories !! Bravo !!

[@FrancoisDressler]

Love this man. A little surprised he had no Polanski anecdotes, unless they were edited out.

[@marcusbrown6217]

Such an interesting cadence in his speech. So wistful but at times weary and longing.

[@Kaisersozze]

This was great, he knows how to do a good Closet Picks instead of just grabbing some films and leaving.

[@walkerstark4564]

Deep End and Essential Killing should be on Criterion

[@hotboxinc]

Eo blew me away, Perfect cinema, why I love movies.

[@gutterbaby8382]

I love Jerzy! Such a wonderful little old fellow.

[@donna25871]

Come and See is the most brutal war film I have ever seen. You can find it on KZbin. It’s a film I can only watch once because of the brutality - but that was the Belorussian experience during WWII.

[@veryeyeofnight]

The Shout & Deep End 🖤

[@barrymoore4470]

I think you mean 'The Shout' & 'Deep End'. I haven't seen 'The Shout', though it sounds fascinating, but I have seen and greatly appreciate 'Deep End', one of my favorite films.

[@veryeyeofnight]

Thanks. :) Corrected it.

[@JC-to5by]

Can't wait to see his newest colab with Polanski !

[@philipmarinello8802]

What a beautiful closet video. Thank you for sharing!

[@jackbarry7155]

That was… SO. BEAUTIFUL. Word.

[@Theomite]

...So...do we call COME AND SEE LOOK AND REALIZE from now on?

[@leonkane8570]

Recently saw Moonlightling and was a highly rewarding experience, wonderful film with Jeremy Irons

[@duncansamways1363]

Another great video, he was very sincere and very funny, especially the Forman anecdote.

[@adriannademadriguera4859]

no, good sir. thank you and bless you

[@sinkthebounty122]

He was great in Avengers

[@filmarchive7568]

When I was a student in Kerala, India I saw the film White Nights, and I used to say repeatedly my favourite dialogue in the film, where Colonel Chaikov exposes the Ballet dancer played by Mikhail Baryshnikov, *"Welcome home, Nicolai." He was my favourite character, the colonel who never prone to violence despite being a villain. It was Skolimowski's masterpiece character. The film is White Nights (1985) See the scene here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGOTqYWorNCBh68

[@jimlane51]

I totally lost it when he said na schledano Milose. Very powerful.

[@SanshoTheBailiff]

Come and See is prob the best film of all time

[@matiastoro1667]

Everyone (with some sense) picks La Strada. It's pretty amazing.

[@nedd.8479]

Deep End really deserves to be in the Criterion Collection.

[@Sucharush31]

The "Na Shledanou Milošku" almost made me tear up

[@alenava2037]

Please upload the Park Chan-Wook video

[@possiblymcfly]

I'm more hyped about the Daniels video, they directed Everything Everywhere All At Once

[@lukess.s]

@@possiblymcfly A much lesser and less interesting film than essentially every movie Park Chan-Wook has ever made

[@possiblymcfly]

@@lukess.s That's a fair opinion. I love both EEAAO and Park Chan-Wook's catalog.

[@trillioncrowns]

i dont know this man but the 5min new format is great! lets talk movies

[@larryyz_hideaway]

Sarah Polley should be next

[@marcelavial3923]

Wish I had the same close friends as him ❤

[@johnsailorsgoat]

That was lovely.

[@TheDreadfulCurtain]

Wonderful!

[@literallymebasd]

Thanks for his role in the Avengers. His best work!

[@terenceheesch8351]

😅🤣 I'm gonna be 💯 I wasn't familiar with Jerzy Skolimowski...until his cameo in "Mars Attacks"...there's a small generation of film fans who experienced the same

[@darrenh5418]

So poignant the way he talks about his old friends!

[@lukderk]

Fames first polish contrcultural diractor, why soo few polish movies CC have in store, more polish cinema!

[@kadykianus]

Talented Polish director.

[@spiritcreek9813]

No Kieślowski?

[@vokasimid5330]

That's the interrogator in Avengers (2012)

[@NomadicBrian]

Here are some for me to explore.

[@donnosypinocchio4462]

Heyyyy…it’s the papa from eastern promises 😄

[@ahuman9394]

"We'll see eachother... up there."

[@farragutspikes1]

Oh wow!!!!!!!!

[@liltick102]

I want to see Werner Herzog and Tarantino here so badly..

[@fisherj5087]

Had no idea about “Come And See” being a mistranslation!

[@taurig]

Actually it is a line from a Bible

[@wasnt_it]

is Eo supposed to be based on au Hasard Balthazar?

[@barrymoore4470]

From what I understand, it is inspired by and reworks some of the ideas and themes in 'Au hasard Balthazar'. But it's not an outright remake of Bresson's film.

[@Ack359]

Lovely old man with great work behind him. Nice choices, though I felt Fellini should've been left out because he isn't as serious as the others mentioned - great as he may well be. Absolutely love La Strada though

[@travisspazz1624]

The famous Black Widow

[@theupsetter1969]

Questions. How many can the people pick? Do they have to pay for them? Can I have a go please?😁

[@1deplatt]

How can I get a trip to this closet!?

[@dan2007kohn]

He was low-key terrifying in White Nights.

[@nativewizard]

wanna criterion edition of moonlighting

[@matthewboulter]

Guess he couldn’t find Au Hasard Balthazar lol

[@spiritcreek9813]

My thought exactly.

[@mattyslicks]

This man was great in "Eastern Promises."

[@ruling528]

He was the only good thing about it because he was the only actor in the film who was an actual slavic.

[@lukess.s]

@@ruling528 that movie rules man you're out of your mind

[@Njbear7453]

The David Cronenberg film?

[@mattyslicks]

@@Njbear7453 yeah

[@ruling528]

I could listen to this guy for an hour.

[@chamindujanith6337]

He is Polanski's friend for 60 years

[@kingoftheducks]

Not much love in the comments for his small part in Mars Attacks!; "Positively positive."

[@janackova]

Love his films. But Ivan’s Childhood ends with Ivan and the girl running on the beach.

[@dankthomas2878]

Yes but he's actually right, he runs and the camera goes into the tree and the screen goes black. Ivan also runs past the girl so he stays as the only one in frame

[@carloswilton5127]

Is this guy going to get some films or what