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Film Director Milos Forman on His Life and Career

Forman co-produced with Oliver Stone the new film "The People vs Larry Flynt." In this 1994 interview, Forman talks about his own experiences with censorship. He is originally from Czechoslovakia and began his film career in his native country, apprenticing with some of the country's best film makers for the Communist state-controlled film industry. He was part of the Czech New Wave cinema with films such as "Black Peter," "Loves of a Blonde," and "Fireman's Ball." Forman was orphaned during World War II; both his parents were seized by the Gestapo. Then he lived under Communism. Forman is the director of such American films as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Amadeus," "Hair," and "Ragtime."

28:40
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Other segments from the episode on December 13, 1996

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, December 13, 1996: Interview with Milos Forman; Interview with Dorothy Allison; Review of the films "Jerry Maguire" and "Mars Attacks."
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21:29

A Novelist and Survivor on the Lasting Effects of Child Abuse

Allison's novel "Bastard Out of Carolina" has been adapted to a new movie that will be shown on the Showtime cable channel this weekend. The 1992 novel is about a poor South Carolina family's violence and incest, and it's largely autobiographical. She says that she doesn't like most abuse literature out today because it tends to eroticize abuse. Allison has also written a book of short stories called "Trash" and a book of poems called "The Women Who Hate Me." This interview originally aired 9/9/92.

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05:36

Some Lighter Fare for Holiday Moviegoers

Film Critic John Powers reviews two new films that will open at select theaters today: "Jerry Maguire" and "Mars Attacks." He says they're both silly and pleasurable experiences.

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20:48

Director Milos Forman on the Complexity of Larry Flynt

Forman talks about his life, filmmaking career and his latest project, directing "The People vs. Larry Flynt." Among his film credits: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next," "Hair," and "Ragtime." Forman won an Academy Award for Best Director for the film "Amadeus." Forman was born in Caslav, Czechoslovakia and became an American citizen in 1975. He lives in New York.

Interview
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45:17

Milos Forman Discusses His Life and Career.

Film director Milos Forman. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Forman is the director of such American films as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Amadeus," "Hair," and "Ragtime." Forman began his film career in his native country, apprenticing with some of the country's best film makers for the Communist state-controlled film industry.

Interview
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32:22

Czech writer Arnost Lustig

Czech writer Arnost Lustig is considered one of the country's most prominent writers. His new novel, Lovely Green Eyes, is the story of a 15-year-old girl in Auschwitz and the compromises she makes in order to stay alive. Lustig himself survived Theresienstadt, Auschwitz and Buchenwald camps. His family died in the gas chambers. Lustig teaches at American University in Washington, D.C. He is also featured in the new documentary Fighter, in which he and long-time friend Jan Wiener retrace wartime memories.

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Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

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