Norman Briski
Encyclopedia
Norman Briski is a well-known Argentine theatre actor, director and playwright, as well as a noted cinema and television actor.
, in 1938. His Jewish Argentine family relocated to Córdoba
, where Briski developed an interest in acting and where, in 1955, he was given his first stage role in La Farsa del señor Corregidor. He continued his work in the theatre and in time earned leading parts in plays such as Rosencranz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Mother
. He was given his first cinema role, a part in Ricardo Alventosa's comedy, Cómo seducir a una mujer (How to Seduce a Woman), in 1967.
Remaining active in the local theatre, Briski established an independent theatre company, "Octubre," in the early 1970s, and devoted its repertoire to the production of classics banned in Argentina at the time (such as Oedipus Rex). A left-wing Peronist, he received death threats from the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance, a paramilitary group active in the mid-1970s, and left for Spain
in 1975. There, he was cast by director Carlos Saura
for a leading role in his acclaimed 1976 drama, Elisa, vida mía
(Elisa, My Life), and in his work of magic realism
, Mamá cumple cien años (Mom Turns 100), in 1979. He contributed to a number of other Spanish films
and to Swedish director Stig Björkman
's Walk on Water If You Can (1979).
The avent of democracy
in Argentina in 1983 was soon followed by Briski's joining hundreds of fellow artists and other professionals in their return from exile. He chose as his first post-exile cinema role that of Emilio, a Jewish theatre director reunited with friends and enemies alike, in Alberto Fischerman's Los dias de junio (Days in June), released in 1985. He also returned to the Argentine stage and wrote numerous works, including Las primas (Cousins), Fin de siglo (Turn of the Century), and Cuadrilátero (Four-sided).
Briski began appearing on Argentine television in 1989, and the following year, portrayed local rock musician Charly García
's father in a biopic, Charly, días de sangre. He was then cast by Academy Award-winning director Luis Puenzo
in his 1992 adaptation of Albert Camus
' The Plague
, by Alejandro Agresti
in his 1997 tragedy, La cruz (The Cross), and as the concerned grandfather of a struggling young artist in Fernando Díaz's Plaza de almas
(1997). Briski, who often portrays tragic roles, accepted a part in a 1997 romantic sitcom, Naranja y media (My Better Halves).
Active in left-wing causes, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress
in 1991 on the Popular Unity Front ticket. More recent dramatic roles include that of the doomed Dr. Feldman in the 2004 cable mystery series, Epitafios
, and as Macías Moll, an elderly clock repairman longing for lost youth in Marcos Rodríguez's Los chicos desaparecen (2008). The noted actor continues to work extensively in television, cinema and the theatre, and established the Caliban Theatre in 1987. Set in a belle époque
building in the bohemian Montserrat
section of Buenos Aires
, the instititution hosts one of the country's most active repertoires of William Shakespeare
's works - which he considers "so challenging that we could never be past them."
Life and work
Naum Normando Briski was born in Santa Fe, ArgentinaSanta Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
, in 1938. His Jewish Argentine family relocated to Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, where Briski developed an interest in acting and where, in 1955, he was given his first stage role in La Farsa del señor Corregidor. He continued his work in the theatre and in time earned leading parts in plays such as Rosencranz and Guildenstern are Dead and The Mother
The Mother (play)
The Mother is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. It is based on Maxim Gorky’s 1906 novel of the same name.It was written in collaboration with Hanns Eisler, Slatan Dudow and Günter Weisenborn from 1930–31 in prose dialogue with unrhymed irregular free verse and ten initial...
. He was given his first cinema role, a part in Ricardo Alventosa's comedy, Cómo seducir a una mujer (How to Seduce a Woman), in 1967.
Remaining active in the local theatre, Briski established an independent theatre company, "Octubre," in the early 1970s, and devoted its repertoire to the production of classics banned in Argentina at the time (such as Oedipus Rex). A left-wing Peronist, he received death threats from the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance, a paramilitary group active in the mid-1970s, and left for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1975. There, he was cast by director Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura
Carlos Saura Atarés is a Spanish film director and photographer.-Early life:Born into a family of artists , he developed his artistic sense in childhood as a photography enthusiast.He obtained his directing diploma in Madrid in 1957 at the Institute of Cinema Research and Studies...
for a leading role in his acclaimed 1976 drama, Elisa, vida mía
Elisa, vida mía
Elisa, vida mía is a 1977 Spanish drama film written and directed by Carlos Saura. The film stars Saura's long-term companion and frequent collaborator, Geraldine Chaplin...
(Elisa, My Life), and in his work of magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
, Mamá cumple cien años (Mom Turns 100), in 1979. He contributed to a number of other Spanish films
Cinema of Spain
The art of motion-picture making within the nation of Spain or by Spanish filmmakers abroad is collectively known as Spanish Cinema.In recent years, Spanish cinema has achieved high marks of recognition as a result of its creative and technical excellence...
and to Swedish director Stig Björkman
Stig Björkman
Stig Björkman is a Swedish writer and film critic. He has also directed fifteen films since 1964. His 1972 film Georgia, Georgia was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected bibliography:...
's Walk on Water If You Can (1979).
The avent of democracy
Argentine general election, 1983
The Argentine general election of 1983 was held on 30 October and marked the return of Democracy after the 1976's dictatorship self-known as National Reorganization Process...
in Argentina in 1983 was soon followed by Briski's joining hundreds of fellow artists and other professionals in their return from exile. He chose as his first post-exile cinema role that of Emilio, a Jewish theatre director reunited with friends and enemies alike, in Alberto Fischerman's Los dias de junio (Days in June), released in 1985. He also returned to the Argentine stage and wrote numerous works, including Las primas (Cousins), Fin de siglo (Turn of the Century), and Cuadrilátero (Four-sided).
Briski began appearing on Argentine television in 1989, and the following year, portrayed local rock musician Charly García
Charly García
Charly García is a singer-songwriter, pianist and keyboardist from Argentina with a long career in rock music, forming successful groups such as Sui Generis and Serú Girán, cult status groups like La Máquina de Hacer Pájaros, and as a solo musician.-Early years:Charly García was the eldest son in...
's father in a biopic, Charly, días de sangre. He was then cast by Academy Award-winning director Luis Puenzo
Luis Puenzo
Luis Adalberto Puenzo is an Argentine film director, producer and screenplay writer.He works mainly in the cinema of Argentina, but has also worked in the United States.-Biography:...
in his 1992 adaptation of Albert Camus
Albert Camus
Albert Camus was a French author, journalist, and key philosopher of the 20th century. In 1949, Camus founded the Group for International Liaisons within the Revolutionary Union Movement, which was opposed to some tendencies of the Surrealist movement of André Breton.Camus was awarded the 1957...
' The Plague
The Plague
The Plague is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1947, that tells the story of medical workers finding solidarity in their labour as the Algerian city of Oran is swept by a plague. It asks a number of questions relating to the nature of destiny and the human condition...
, by Alejandro Agresti
Alejandro Agresti
Alejandro Agresti is an Argentine film director and producer. He has become increasingly influential in the United States and directed The Lake House with top Hollywood actors Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves in 2006....
in his 1997 tragedy, La cruz (The Cross), and as the concerned grandfather of a struggling young artist in Fernando Díaz's Plaza de almas
Plaza de Almas
Plaza de almas is an Argentine drama film, written directed by Fernando Díaz.The picture was produced by Daniel Burman, Fernando Díaz, and Diego Dubcovsky.It stars Olga Zubarry, Norman Briski, Vera Fogwill, and others.-Plot:...
(1997). Briski, who often portrays tragic roles, accepted a part in a 1997 romantic sitcom, Naranja y media (My Better Halves).
Active in left-wing causes, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress
Argentine Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Argentine National Congress. This Chamber holds exclusive rights to create taxes, to draft troops, and to accuse the President, the ministers and the members of the Supreme Court before the Senate....
in 1991 on the Popular Unity Front ticket. More recent dramatic roles include that of the doomed Dr. Feldman in the 2004 cable mystery series, Epitafios
Epitafios
Epitafios is a 2004 13 episode, Argentinian crime fiction TV mini-series with the tagline: El Final Está Escrito ... The End Is Written. The series, which takes place in an unnamed South American city, was shot in Buenos Aires....
, and as Macías Moll, an elderly clock repairman longing for lost youth in Marcos Rodríguez's Los chicos desaparecen (2008). The noted actor continues to work extensively in television, cinema and the theatre, and established the Caliban Theatre in 1987. Set in a belle époque
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
building in the bohemian Montserrat
Montserrat, Buenos Aires
Monserrat is a neighbourhood located in the east of the Buenos Aires CBD. The district features some of the most important public buildings in Buenos Aires, including city hall, the city legislature, Casa Rosada, the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires and the Libertador Building , among...
section of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, the instititution hosts one of the country's most active repertoires of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's works - which he considers "so challenging that we could never be past them."