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Stanley Forman obituary Stanley Forman obituary
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My grandfather, Stanley Forman, who has died aged 91, was a lifelong communist, trade unionist and film-maker, but was best known as a collector and distributor of rare documentary footage from behind the iron curtain.My grandfather, Stanley Forman, who has died aged 91, was a lifelong communist, trade unionist and film-maker, but was best known as a collector and distributor of rare documentary footage from behind the iron curtain.
The son of Jewish immigrants who came to Britain to escape the pogroms of eastern Europe, Stanley was born and grew up in the East End of London. As a teenager he was radicalised by both the Battle of Cable Street and his "heroes" who volunteered in the Spanish civil war. He studied (learning "everything he knew") at the Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell and through the Young Communist League met his future wife, Hilda.The son of Jewish immigrants who came to Britain to escape the pogroms of eastern Europe, Stanley was born and grew up in the East End of London. As a teenager he was radicalised by both the Battle of Cable Street and his "heroes" who volunteered in the Spanish civil war. He studied (learning "everything he knew") at the Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell and through the Young Communist League met his future wife, Hilda.
After serving as part of de-Nazification programmes in Germany at the end of the war, Stanley established his first company, Plato Films, on the back of Communist party connections in 1950. He built the firm up into a unique archive, housed latterly in two floors of a small office in Upper Street, Islington, and in the basement and every spare corner of the family home in Tufnell Park.After serving as part of de-Nazification programmes in Germany at the end of the war, Stanley established his first company, Plato Films, on the back of Communist party connections in 1950. He built the firm up into a unique archive, housed latterly in two floors of a small office in Upper Street, Islington, and in the basement and every spare corner of the family home in Tufnell Park.
Following a landmark libel case, brought by the former Nazi general Hans Speidel after Plato screened the East German documentary Operation Teutonic Sword (1958) at the National Film Theatre, Stanley refounded the company as ETV (Educational & Television Films). After retiring in 2002, he donated his collection to the British Film Institute and it remains the definitive source for footage of the Soviet bloc.Following a landmark libel case, brought by the former Nazi general Hans Speidel after Plato screened the East German documentary Operation Teutonic Sword (1958) at the National Film Theatre, Stanley refounded the company as ETV (Educational & Television Films). After retiring in 2002, he donated his collection to the British Film Institute and it remains the definitive source for footage of the Soviet bloc.
However, his proudest achievements were probably the films he produced, particularly the Bafta-nominated Compañero (1974), the story of Joan Jara, widow of the celebrated Chilean folk singer Victor Jara, who was murdered by the Pinochet regime.However, his proudest achievements were probably the films he produced, particularly the Bafta-nominated Compañero (1974), the story of Joan Jara, widow of the celebrated Chilean folk singer Victor Jara, who was murdered by the Pinochet regime.
Despite seeing its flaws, Stanley remained committed to communism, although firmly on the side of liberalisation. And with an always ebullient and engaging personality, he also saw no contradiction in enjoying some of the finer things in life such as smoked salmon, caviar and champagne ("under socialism we would all eat like this" being a favourite phrase of his).Despite seeing its flaws, Stanley remained committed to communism, although firmly on the side of liberalisation. And with an always ebullient and engaging personality, he also saw no contradiction in enjoying some of the finer things in life such as smoked salmon, caviar and champagne ("under socialism we would all eat like this" being a favourite phrase of his).
As well as a son with Hilda – my father David – he had two daughters, Sarah and Flora, and a granddaughter, Rosa, in East Germany, whom our side of the family only learned about only in recent years. And while his relationship with his children was affected by this revelation, he was always a fun and generous grandfather to my three sisters and me, spoiling us endlessly with trips to the ballet, theatre, museums and of course the cinema.As well as a son with Hilda – my father David – he had two daughters, Sarah and Flora, and a granddaughter, Rosa, in East Germany, whom our side of the family only learned about only in recent years. And while his relationship with his children was affected by this revelation, he was always a fun and generous grandfather to my three sisters and me, spoiling us endlessly with trips to the ballet, theatre, museums and of course the cinema.
Hilda died in 2008; he is survived by his children and five grandchildren, Anna, Emma, Roslyn, Rosa and me.Hilda died in 2008; he is survived by his children and five grandchildren, Anna, Emma, Roslyn, Rosa and me.
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