Igor Ciel

He was born in Rožňava, however he lived and studied in Brezno since childhood. While studying on a grammar school, he attended the theatre club of Janko Chalupka, where he first found his interest in theatre. His mother was an actress in amateur theatre and tried to help him during his early years.[1]

His interest in theatre continued further into his life, which prompted him to apply to the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU), where he wanted to study for the role of a director of theatrical plays. However, he was not accepted and instead studied science and aesthetics of theatre on the Commenius University in Bratislava. After graduating, he again applied for the same course at the Academy and was finally accepted. Acting lessons were taught by Andrej Bagar, while he received director lessons from Jozef Budský. He gained attention by directing the androcentric play Oil tanker, by Herb Tank, at the Youth theatre on Dunajská street. Due to the recommendation by his professors, he later went to study on a theatrical vocational school in Moscow (Russian Institute of Theatre Arts - GITIS), where he expanded his knowledge of theatre by studying prominent artists. After returning in 1955, he finished his studies together with Pavol Haspra and Oto Katuš. After finishing school, rather than directing plays, he became a radio announcer. He started directing plays in Zvolen (1955 – 1959) and later in Nitra (1960 – 1966). With the exception of the Peter Jelmnický theatre in Žilina, Ciel worked in all non-Bratislava theatrical ensembles. After leaving Nitra in 1966, he started working as a director in the Czechoslovak Television in Bratislava. He worked in the chief editorial office of the literary-dramatic department, where he mainly focused on the adaptation of both Slovak and foreign authors. He is one of the creators of the famous, and popular, "Bratislava Mondays". While working on his projects, he worked with some of the most important and best-known Slovakian actors and actresses, such as: Vlado Müller, Jozef Kroner, Štefan Kvietik, Ladislav Chudík, Karol Machata, Michal Dočolomanský, Jozef Adamovič, Božidara Turzonovová, Zdena Studenková, Emília Vášáryová, Zdena Gruberová, Magda Paveleková, Kamila Magálová etc.[1]

He is also famous for always working with the same staff. His main cameraman was Marián Minárik, the main costumer designer was Milan Čorba, the art was done by Ladislav Hupka, music composed by Jaromír Dlouhý and editing by Ladislav Halama. He filmed more than one hundred and forty titles, not limited to movies, but also TV series, performances and a few documentaries. However, the most popular series among the audience, are The Mohicans of Paris (1971), Vivat Benyovszky! (1975), Louis Pasteur (1977) and Barbora Rössel (1979). For many years, he also taught at the Academy of Performing Arts. He worked at the faculty of theatre until 1962, but he became the head of the Department of television directing after its opening in 1974. During the academic year 1985/86, the department was renamed to the Department of movie and television directing, and Igor Ciel was replaced by director Stanislav Párnický. In 1981 Ciel attained the title of Associate Professor and by the end of 1989 became a professor. In 1990 he was present at the formation of the Movie and television faculty at VŠMU, where he started as the only professor and for a couple of years served as its sub-dean. In the 1990s he also figured on the board of the Slovak television and served as its chairman in 1993. Towards the end of the old, and beginning of the new century, he also taught at the Academy of arts in Banská Bystrica (1998–2003). Ciel wasn't just a director and teacher, but also an actor. He debuted in 1958 in the fiction film The last home-coming directed by František Kudláč. Later he also appeared in various theatrical plays, such as Romeo and Juliet, Unheard gunshot, Key owners.[1]

In 1956 he married the actress Alžbeta Poláčková, whom he worked with on various theatrical plays, such as House of Bernarda Alba, Enemies, Guest, but also television movies, such as Hatred, Steel workers, Toreador. They have two kids together, Hana and Martin. Hana studied dramaturgy and screenwriting on the FAMU (Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague) and worked with Igor on many television movies e.g. Magma, Foreplay and I'll die tomorrow anyway. Martin studied film and theatre science on VŠMU in Bratislava, where he works as an Associate Professor on the Department of audiovisual studies. Igor and Martin performed together in the year 2000 in the television movie Calm after the storm.[1]

Igor Ciel lost his fight against a serious illness on the 4th of July in 2010.

In the 1960s his work was mainly focused on television performances, in the 70s on television series, in the 80s television movies and in the 90s a return to television performances. In his work, we can see a significant focus on psychological and social drama (e.g. Jubel's children, Goodbye), comedies (e.g. Advertised marriage, Appendix transplant), detective stories (e.g. Sea mystery, Killer), but also historical and adventure movies and series (e.g. Two-headed eagle, Vivat Benyovszky!, Barbora Rössel). His work also includes several movies about the 2nd World War (e.g. Loveless game, Seven from the town hall, Strange circumstances). He is also known for the adaptation of both Slovak and foreign authors, and playfully changing the contexts of their works. Ciel made several movies with a Hungarian theme, based on books by Hungarian authors (e.g. Ossa Sepia, Culprit's memories). He also filmed two movies directly in Hungary – A tévedés joga / Right to error (1982) and Szonatina egy páváért / Sonata for a peacock (1990).[2]

His movies usually follow a linear plot, with the occasional use of a retrospective. He doesn't use many symbols or metaphors. However, in some works there is an obvious effort when it comes to the attempt of showcasing a philosophical meaning, or social commentary portrayed through satire. This tendency is quite visible, for example, in his older plays from the 1950s, such as: It started in the Museum (1956) or Restless youth (1957).[2]

(Note: Years of release and titles are in alphabetical order)

[2][3]

Toreador, film o Mexiku / Toreador, a movie about Mexico (1963)

Výber z diela Jána Kollára. Slávy dcéra / The best of Ján Kollár. The daughter of Sláva (1966)

Koniec cesty / End of the road (1969)

Výber zo Štúrovej poézie. Básne / The best of Ľudovít Štúr. Poems (1972)

Návšteva pod rovníkom - Madagaskar / Visit under the equator - Madagascar (1975)

Stretnutie s národným umelcom Viliamom Záborským / Meeting the national artist Viliam Záborský (1982)

Stretnutie s národným umelcom Ladislavom Chudíkom / Meeting the national artist Ladislav Chudík (1983)

Stretnutie s herečkou Emíliou Vášáryovou / Meeting the actress Emília Vašáryová (1984)

Máte doma alergika? / Do you live with an allergic person? (1996)

• https://web.archive.org/web/20160624211058/http://ftf.vsmu.sk/node/8889
• ČSFD.cz
• FDB.cz
• Igor Ciel on IMDb
• Port.hu