Piotr Sobociński


Piotr Sobociński was a Polish cinematographer. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Three Colours: Red in 1994. He was the son of Polish cinematographer Witold Sobociński.

Early life

Born in 1958, in Łódź, Poland, as a youngster, Sobociński felt led in his father's footsteps. He studied at the National Film School in Łódź and earned his degrees in 1987.

Career

He worked with noted Polish director, Krzysztof Kieślowski in many films, starting with Dekalog and culminating with Kieślowski's final film, Three Colours: Red, for which Sobociński won his first award the Silver Frog Award at Camerimage, Poland's International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography in 1994, as well as an Oscar nomination the same year. In the following year, he won the Golden Frog award for The Seventh Room and, in 1997, received a Golden Frog nomination for Marvin’s Room.
His career hit a peak in the mid-1990s when he was asked by Ron Howard to work on the film Ransom starring Mel Gibson and Rene Russo.

Death

While filming Trapped in 2001, he suffered a massive heart attack and died in his sleep in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland. Hearts in Atlantis, released a few months after his death, and Trapped are dedicated to him.
His sons, Piotr and Michał, are both cinematographers. His daughter, Maria, is an actress.

Filmography

Television

Miniseries
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1988DekalogKrzysztof KieślowskiSegments Three and Nine
1989Biała wizytówkaFilip Bajon
1993Die Piefke-SagaWerner MastenEpisode "Die Erfüllung"

TV series
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1992-1993Unser Lehrer Doktor SpechtWerner Masten21 episodes
1995Frauenarzt Dr. Markus MerthinMatthias GohlkeEpisodes "Alte Bekannte" and "Pläne"
1995Die Straßen von BerlinWerner MastenEpisode "Babuschka"