Pauline Kael

Introduction:

Pauline Kael was an American journalist and film critic, known for her fearless and candid reviews of movies. Her extensive career spanned over 23 years, during which she became a celebrated icon in the world of journalism. Kael was a prolific writer and her reviews were highly regarded for their engaging and thoughtful insights that had an enduring impact on film criticism.

Background and Education:

Born on June 19, 1919, in Petaluma, California, Pauline Kael grew up in a tumultuous environment where she faced many trials and tribulations. She had a difficult childhood, and after her parents divorced, she moved with her family to San Francisco.

Despite these hardships, Kael remained an exceptional student and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied philosophy, literature, and art. She went on to earn a degree in education but eventually decided to pursue her passion for writing.

Career and Important Events:

Kael started her career as a writer for the Berkeley-based radio station KPFA, where she wrote and produced shows. Later, she became a film critic for The New Republic, where she worked for several years before joining the New Yorker magazine as their film critic in 1968.

One of the most significant events in Kael's life was her role in championing the works of the new Hollywood directors who emerged in the 1970s. Her impassioned reviews of films such as Bonnie and Clyde, The Godfather, and Chinatown helped redefine the role of cinema and the possibilities of what could be achieved in film.

Personality and Motivation:

Pauline Kael was known for her bold, risk-taking nature, and her willingness to challenge the status quo. She was fiercely intelligent, with an unrelenting curiosity that drove her forward. Kael was often controversial, and her reviews were frequently polarizing, but this only made her more popular with readers who valued her candor and unfiltered opinions.

Before Becoming Famous:

Before she became famous, Kael faced many obstacles, including a difficult upbringing that shaped her worldview and influenced her writing. She struggled to establish herself as a writer, and her early career was marked by periods of financial insecurity and uncertainty.

Family Life:

Kael was married once and had one child, a daughter named Gina. Her personal life was marked by tragedy when her husband, James Broughton, died in 1999.

Linked to Other People in the Industry:

Pauline Kael was widely respected by her peers, with filmmakers such as Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and Brian De Palma hailing her as one of the greatest film critics of all time. She was also respected by her colleagues, and her reviews often sparked heated debates among other critics and film enthusiasts.