Branko Lustig
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| Branko Lustig | |
| Born | June 10, 1932 Osijek, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (today Croatia) |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Producer |
| Years active | 1955[1]–present |
Branko Lustig (born June 10, 1932) is a prominent Croatian-American film producer. He is the only Croatian person to have won two Academy Awards.[2]
Lustig was born in Osijek, Croatia (at that time Kingdom of Yugoslavia), to a Croatian-Jewish family. During World War II, as a child he was imprisoned for two years in Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Most of his family members perished in the death camps throughout Europe.[3]
Lustig began his film career in 1955 as an assistant director at Jadran Film, a Zagreb-based film production company.[1] In 1956 he worked as a unit production manager on Ne okreći se sine (Don't Look Back, My Son), a notable World War II drama. In the 1980s Lustig worked on the miniseries The Winds of War (1983) and its sequel War and Remembrance (1988).[1] He moved to the United States in 1988.[1]
Lustig received his first Oscar in 1993 for the production of Schindler's List, a film based on the novel of Thomas Keneally (which is, in turn, based on the true-life story of a German manufacturer who saved hundreds of Jews during World War II). He received his second Oscar for the epic movie Gladiator about a struggle for power in Imperial Rome, in 2001. Other major Hollywood films that Lustig has worked on as a producer or executive producer include The Peacemaker (1997), Hannibal (2001), and Black Hawk Down (2001).
Lustig received the Order of Duke Trpimir by President Franjo Tuđman for his work on the film.[1] In 2008 he became the first filmmaker ever to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Zagreb.[2]
In 2008, Lustig helped establish an independent production company Six Point Films to produce "meaningful, though-provoking independent films".
FAMILY Branko's came from a large family. Part of his family, grandparents and aunts died in the second world war, some of the family killed by the Nazis. Branko's grandmother during World War 2 helped Jewish children get away from the Nazis. She was honored in the town where she did this important work. Years later Branko's Aunt Gina raised funds to get food and other important supplies to the woman and children during the Bosnian conflict with daughter Susan doing a Shoe Box appeal to get stuff together for the women and children all contained in a shoe box. So what the grandmother started with helping the jewish children went down the generations to present day, helping the fomer Yugoslavia and its people. Those in the family who survived the second world war where his Mother Vilma, his Aunts Gisela and Gina. Gina Branko's Aunt changed her identity during World War 2 so that she could survivie. Gina also learnt fluent German to get by. Vilma (his mother) was married to a man called Franjo a really nice man who would drive a tiny fiat car. Gisela after the war went and lived in Montevedao. Gina his other Aunt met her future husband in Cairo Egypt. They then went to Prague Czchoslovakia and married. Afterwards they moved to London England where they set up home and adopted a girl called Susan. They lived in Earls Court London. Gina's husband Stan was a journalist and freelance writer. As often as possible Gina,Stan and Susan would visit Yugoslavia, now Croatia to see Vilma, Franjo and Branko. Branko's mother Vilma was a lovely lady. Had a beautiful face, full of character. She was a lady who was very passionate and a great cook. Often at the sea side house near Rijeka Vilma would in the evening water the plants. Vilma love her plants. She also loved talking for ages with her sister Gina. The family reunions where great. Branko would often be working and rushing about making movies. As time went by the family watched as Branko achieved things in the movie world. During a Labour Party conference one year Gina spoke at the conference proudly mentioning her Bosnian roots and saying how important family where. Gina and Stan went to the Premier of Schindlers List with Branko. A film Gina found rather hard to watch due to what happened to the family during World War 2. Gina and Stan have now died but their daughter Susan is still alive. As Branko and Gina have often said ---Family is Important. Article Source from Family.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Hollywoodska večer za Branka Lustiga" (in Croatian). Vjesnik. April 20, 2007. http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/2007/04/20/Clanak.asp?r=kul&c=1. Retrieved on 2008-07-10.
- ^ a b Penić, Goran (July 10, 2008). "Oskarovac predavač na Akademiji" (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. http://www.jutarnji.hr/zagreb/clanak/art-2008,7,10,,126081.jl. Retrieved on 2008-07-10.
- ^ "U Hollywoodu održana večer posvećena Branku Lustigu" (in Croatian). Jutarnji list. April 19, 2007. http://www.jutarnji.hr/kultura/film/clanak/art-2007,4,19,lustig_hollywood,71075.jl. Retrieved on 2008-07-10.
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