Philip II of Spain

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Lore & Background

Kalisky's father, Abram Kaliski, was a leather merchant and dancer born in Łódź who emigrated to Belgium. He was caught by Belgian police while seeking milk for his newborn, imprisoned in the Mechelen transit camp, and reportedly assassinated in Auschwitz around December 1944, aged 36. Kalisky and his three siblings were hidden in separate places during World War II; their mother Fradla raised them alone after the war. Kalisky was about eight when he lost his father. He later wrote plays that grappled with historical trauma, including *Falsch* (1980), his last play, which was adapted into a 1987 film by the Dardenne brothers starring Bruno Cremer.

In Their Own Story

In 1977, French publisher Stock released several of Kalisky's controversial pieces, including *La passion selon Pier Paolo Pasolini* and *Dave au bord de mer*, along with *Du sur jeu au sur texte*, where he described his personal vision of theater. His plays were directed by figures like Antoine Vitez, who staged *Le Pique-Nique de Claretta* in 1974 at the Théâtre d'Ivry, and later *Aïda vaincue* at the Comédie-Française—Vitez died about a month before rehearsals, replaced by Patrice Kerbrat. Kalisky abruptly died of lung cancer aged 44. His correspondence with Romain Gary and Antoine Vitez showed close relationships.

Reader's Guide

René Kalisky's career began in publishing as a secretary and in journalism with *Patriot Illustré* before he turned to theater. His first play, *Europa*, was published in Belgium in 1968. He wrote two major essays on Arab political history: *L’origine et l’essor du monde arabe* (1968) and *Le monde arabe à l'heure actuelle: Le réveil et la quête de l’unité* (1974). He worked with Jacques Lemarchand at Gallimard until 1974. His awards include the Annual Dramatic Literature Prize from the Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers in 1974 and the Triennial Grand Prize for Dramatic Literature from the Government in 1975. He was awarded by Germany to craft an original project during a yearlong stay in former western Berlin. His plays have been staged at venues like the Théâtre National de l'Odéon, the Comédie Française, and the Festival d’Avignon.

Did You Know?

• Kalisky's father Abram was a leather merchant and dancer who emigrated from Łódź to Belgium.
• Kalisky and his three siblings were hidden in separate places during World War II; his father was caught by Belgian police while seeking milk for a newborn.
• His last play *Falsch* was adapted into a 1987 film by the Dardenne brothers, starring Bruno Cremer.
• Kalisky developed the 'surtexte' technique, which has been compared to Brecht's 'distancing effect'.
• He died of lung cancer at age 44, just as his career was flourishing.