Polanski: A Biography

The celebrated and controversial Roman Polanski has long been the object of worldwide fascination. Here, acclaimed biographer Christopher Sandford weaves together the rich and complex life of the film director, Holocaust survivor, and exile, based on 200 firsthand accounts. This unique access includes interviews with actors and writers who worked with Polanski, previously sealed transcripts of his criminal hearings, testimony before the California grand jury following sexual assault charges that led to his exile, and personal reflections on the Manson "family" murders of Sharon Tate and friends of the couple. Sandford also discusses the making of Polanski's classic films from 1962-2005, including such highlights as "Rosemary's Baby," "Chinatown," and the Oscar-winning "The Pianist." This compelling biography of a man whose life has been punctuated by extreme tragedies and triumphs illuminates one of the most important careers in modern cinema.