The Roman Polanski film Tess (1979) screens in a digital print this week at the Gene Siskel Film Center, a reportedly lush version of a film known for its sensuous imagery. I’m eager to take a gander myself, as I hope others are as well—your next (and last) opportunity to see it is tomorrow, Mon 1/14, 6 PM.
It goes without saying that Polanski is a controversial figure. However, his prior transgressions aside, he remains one of my very favorite directors. I greatly admire his elegance as a filmmaker, the sophistication he shows even when dealing in decidedly uncomfortable and otherwise lurid subject matter. The following are my five favorite films of his, and I welcome any and all counterarguments.