**Michael Powell** (1905-1990) was an influential British film director. He was celebrated for his prolific and innovative collaboration with screenwriter-producer Emeric Pressburger, forming the duo **The Archers**. Together they created visually sumptuous films, often in Technicolor, that explored complex themes.

Their masterpieces include *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), *Black Narcissus* (1947), and *The Red Shoes* (1948). Powell's style is characterized by deep psychological exploration, visual opulence, and a bold use of color, often blending drama, fantasy, and melodrama.

His later career included *Peeping Tom* (1960), initially controversial but now recognized as a pioneering and disturbing work. He is considered one of the masters of British cinema.