Todd Solondz

Thanks to a series of independent films, writer-director Todd Solondz left an indelible mark upon the filmmaking world. Solondz made his official debut with "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (1995), a heartbreaking yet hilarious chronicle of junior high school life as seen through the eyes of a put-upon young girl. This auspicious debut garnered the filmmaker much attention, which he parlayed into his next film, "Happiness" (1998), a truly dark and twisted film that generated controversy. "Happiness" forced audiences and critics to take note. By the time he directed "Life During Wartime" (2010), a companion piece to "Happiness," Solondz had emerged as a hailed filmmaker once again, willing to tackle difficult subjects, to the praise of both critics and audiences.