Liviu Ciulei
Encyclopedia
Liviu Ciulei (ˈlivju t͡ʃjuˈlej; July 7, 1923 – October 24, 2011) was a Romanian
theater and film director
, film writer, actor, architect, educator, costume
and set designer. During a career spanning over 50 years, he was described by Newsweek
as "one of the boldest and most challenging figures on the international scene".
to Liviu Ciulley, a lawyer and constructor, Ciulei studied architecture and theater at the Royal Conservatory of Music and Theatre
. He made his theater debut in 1946, as Puck
in an Odeon Theatre production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
. Soon after, he joined the theater company knwon as Teatrul Municipal din Bucureşti, later renamed Teatrul Bulandra, and directed his first stage production in 1957 — The Rainmaker
. Between 1956-57, his theatre directing work was also reinforced by a series of consistent essays on directing an stage designing, in the context of a national media debate around the modernisation of the theatrical aesthetics.
In 1961
, Ciulei gained an overall recognition for his version of Shakespeare's As You Like It
. He was the recipient of the Directors' Award at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival
for The Forest of the Hanged, the film version of the Liviu Rebreanu
's eponymous novel (where he also starred in the role of Klapka). In the 1980s, he was marginalized by the regime and transferred to work at Sahia film studio, as documentary filmmaker. He left in 1980 Romania with the motor vessel "Polar V" during the conduct of a documentary film about the life of Romanian sailors.
Ciulei was the artistic director of Teatrul Bulandra for more than a decade. After that, he worked in several European countries, as well as in the United States
—notably at The Arena Stage in Washington D.C., where he directed Leonce and Lena (in Canada and Australia). Between 1980-85, he was the artistic director of Guthrie Theater
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. After 1986 he taught at Columbia University
and at New York University
.
After the Romanian Revolution of 1989
, back in his native Romania, Ciulei has directed a series of stage productions that have been both publicly and critically acclaimed. He was named Honorary Director of the theater he has always loved the most, Bulandra. Besides being the costume and set designer of the majority of his own productions, Ciulei, as an architect, contributed to the rebuilding of the auditorium of Bulandra Theatre. In 1996, UNITER
(Uniunea Teatrală din România) awarded its annual prize to Ciulei.
film director Thomas Ciulei.
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
theater and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, film writer, actor, architect, educator, costume
Costume design
Costume design is the fabrication of apparel for the overall appearance of a character or performer. This usually involves researching, designing and building the actual items from conception. Costumes may be for a theater or cinema performance but may not be limited to such...
and set designer. During a career spanning over 50 years, he was described by Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
as "one of the boldest and most challenging figures on the international scene".
Biography
Born in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
to Liviu Ciulley, a lawyer and constructor, Ciulei studied architecture and theater at the Royal Conservatory of Music and Theatre
National University of Music Bucharest
The National University of Music Bucharest is a university-level school of music located in Bucharest, Romania. Established as a school of music in 1863 and reorganized as an academy in 1931, it has functioned as a public university since 2001...
. He made his theater debut in 1946, as Puck
Puck (Shakespeare)
Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is a character in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream that was based on the ancient figure in English mythology, also called Puck. Puck is a clever and mischievous elf and personifies the trickster or the wise knave...
in an Odeon Theatre production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
. Soon after, he joined the theater company knwon as Teatrul Municipal din Bucureşti, later renamed Teatrul Bulandra, and directed his first stage production in 1957 — The Rainmaker
The Rainmaker (play)
The Rainmaker is a play written by N. Richard Nash in the early 1950s. The play opened on October 28, 1954 at the Cort Theatre in New York and ran for 125 performances. It was directed by Joseph Anthony and produced by Ethel Linder Reiner....
. Between 1956-57, his theatre directing work was also reinforced by a series of consistent essays on directing an stage designing, in the context of a national media debate around the modernisation of the theatrical aesthetics.
In 1961
1961 in film
The year 1961 in film involved some significant events, with West Side Story winning 10 Academy Awards.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:* Atlantis, the Lost ContinentB...
, Ciulei gained an overall recognition for his version of Shakespeare's As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
. He was the recipient of the Directors' Award at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival
1965 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*André Maurois *Olivia de Havilland *Goffredo Lombardo *Max Aub *Michel Aubriant *Rex Harrison *François Reichenbach...
for The Forest of the Hanged, the film version of the Liviu Rebreanu
Liviu Rebreanu
Liviu Rebreanu was a Romanian novelist, playwright, short story writer, and journalist.- Life :Born in Târlișua , Transylvania, then part of Austria-Hungary, he was the second of thirteen children born to Vasile Rebreanu, a schoolteacher, and Ludovica Diuganu, descendants of peasants...
's eponymous novel (where he also starred in the role of Klapka). In the 1980s, he was marginalized by the regime and transferred to work at Sahia film studio, as documentary filmmaker. He left in 1980 Romania with the motor vessel "Polar V" during the conduct of a documentary film about the life of Romanian sailors.
Ciulei was the artistic director of Teatrul Bulandra for more than a decade. After that, he worked in several European countries, as well as in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
—notably at The Arena Stage in Washington D.C., where he directed Leonce and Lena (in Canada and Australia). Between 1980-85, he was the artistic director of Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the result of the desire of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea, and Peter Zeisler to create a resident acting company that would produce and perform the classics in...
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. After 1986 he taught at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
After the Romanian Revolution of 1989
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, back in his native Romania, Ciulei has directed a series of stage productions that have been both publicly and critically acclaimed. He was named Honorary Director of the theater he has always loved the most, Bulandra. Besides being the costume and set designer of the majority of his own productions, Ciulei, as an architect, contributed to the rebuilding of the auditorium of Bulandra Theatre. In 1996, UNITER
UNITER
UNITER or Uniter is a Romanian organization, created as a professional association of theater employees...
(Uniunea Teatrală din România) awarded its annual prize to Ciulei.
Family
He was first married to actress Clody Bertola. He remarried, to journalist Helga Reiter-Ciulei. His son isfilm director Thomas Ciulei.
Death
Ciulei died on October 24, 2011, in a hospital in Munich, aged 88; he had been suffering from multiple illnesses.Filmography
- În sat la noi (1951), actor
- Mitrea Cocor (1951), writer
- Nepoţii gornistului (1953), actor/writer
- Răsare soarele (1954), writer
- Alarmă în munţi (1955), actor
- Pasărea furtunii (1957), writer
- Erupţia (1957), director
- Valurile Dunării (1959), director and actor
- Soldaţi fără uniformă (1960), actor
- Cerul n-are gratii (1962), actor
- Pădurea spânzuraţilorForest of the HangedForest of the Hanged is a 1964 Romanian drama film directed by Liviu Ciulei, and based on the eponymous novel by Liviu Rebreanu. Ciulei won the award for Best Director at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival...
(1964), actor/director - Facerea lumii (1971), writer/actor
- Decolarea (1971), actor
- Dragostea începe vineri (1972), actor
- Dimitrie Cantemir (1973), actor
- Ceaţa (1973), actor
- Mastodontul (1975), actor
- O scrisoare pierdută (1977), writer/director
- Falansterul (1979), actor
Sources
- Miruna Runcan, Teatralizarea si reteatralizarea teatrului in Romania. 1920-1960, Cluj, Editura Eik0n, seria Bibilioteca teatrul Imposibil, 2003