Ken Russell

Straddling the boundary of brilliance and controversy, Ken Russell was a visionary English filmmaker. Born in 1927 in Southampton, England, Russell's active years spanned from the 1950s until his death in 2011 and his work primarily fell into the genres of drama, biography, and musicals, with his most famous films including "Women in Love," "The Devils," and "Tommy." Russell, who won the award for Best Director at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival for "Women in Love," was renowned for his flamboyant and often provocative narrative style, characterized by operatic visuals and a fondness for romantic and religious iconography. Despite his polarizing style, there's no denying that Ken Russell was a truly unique artist, unafraid of challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries of cinema.