Turnaround

This autobiography recounts the story of a diverse life lived through political and cultural extremes. Born and brought up in Czechoslovakia, Forman was orphaned at eight with the death of his parents in separate concentration camps. His period at film school was the result of a desperate attempt to avoid military service, and in 1968 Forman was lured by Paramount to the USA. There he had a cult success with "Taking Off" before winning an Oscar for "One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest", and going on to direct "Hair", "The Fireman's Ball", "Amadeus" and "Valmont". He is now regarded as one of the leading directors of his generation.