Born in 1930, in the southeastern town of Tomaszów Lubelski, Chęciński graduated from the world-famous Film School in the central Polish city of Łódź in 1956.
After serving his apprenticeship as an assistant to various filmmakers, including the future Oscar winner Andrzej Wajda (for 1959’s Lotna), he began directing his own movies, revealing a particular talent for psychological drama.
Chęciński remains best known for the much-loved three-part comedy saga, Our Folks (1967), Take it Easy (1974) and Love or Leave (1977), which follows the fortunes of two rival clans forced to relocate to Poland’s "Western Regained Territories" after World War II.
He was also no stranger to spy thrillers, TV series and action movies, such as 1983’s Big Shar, a story of an aging poker master that attracted 2 million cinema-goers.
Dubbed “the painter of Polish personalities,” Chęciński was in 2014 rewarded for his achievements with the Commander's Cross of the Polonia Restituta Order, followed this year by the Commander’s Cross with a Star of the Polonia Restituta Order, high state decorations in his native country.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP