Present: Cinema and Society

Born in Minnesota in the 1950s, brothers Joel and Ethan Coen have worked closely as a creative pair on an impressive body of work.

Since 1984, the duo has written, directed, produced and – under the pseudonym Roderick Janes – edited and occasionally served as cinematographers on a highly acclaimed list of films. With control over final cut of their films, their creative involvement makes them a creative partnership unique in the history of filmmaking.

The Coen brothers debut film – Blood Simple – won them immediate critical acclaim as young filmmakers with a strong grasp of film genres, the ability to generate dark comedy and the capacity to bring narrative complexity to apparently simple plots.

Their films have won countless awards including a best director Academy Award for No Country for Old Men, various prizes at international competitions such as the best film Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or for Barton Fink and Independent Spirit and Sundance Awards for Blood Simple.

Their works range from cult films like Raising Arizona and the increasingly acclaimed The Big Lebowski to Academy Award-winners Fargo and No Country for Old Men. After winning a screenwriting Oscar for Fargo in 1997, the brothers won that award again as well as awards for Best Director and Best Picture in 2008 for No Country.