Discoveries from Poland World Cinema

Japanese trains. Non-places. An intense travel experience through time and space. From Matsuo Bashō's haikus to images of a vanishing world created by Hokusai in Manga catalogues.

In the times when American teenagers are trained in the field of everyday life on Mars, scientists make research on the taste of crops cultivated on Mars and Moon soil simulants- Mars as a vision of second home ceases to be an illusion and it becomes a reality.

Ewa Partum’s work entitled Change. My problem is a problem of a woman (1979) is the culmination and the turning point of a process which began with Change in 1974. The latter was an action in which the artist had half of her face aged using make-up and immortalized in a portrait posted in the streets of Warsaw. Up to that point, Partum had used make-up to glamorize herself, signing various words with her lips outlined in red and pressed against paper as she spoke 1. But in Change. My problem is a problem of a woman, Partum had wrinkles, varicose veins, and grey hair applied over half of her body while, reclining on a white podium, she recited passages from the critic Lucy Lippard and the artist VALIE EXPORT.

The story of Felek, a cab driver, who, thanks to his accidental fortune, enters the distinguished world of high society.

A teenage girl wakes up in a dollhouse and discovers that she is watched by a giant eye peeping through the window. It turns out that one of the Dwarfs holds the dollhouse in his hands. Suddenly he smashes the door by the flick of his finger and puts his monstrous tongue through the hole.

The film explores the only known case in the history of post-WWII era of concentration camp survivors helping the SS Commandant of the Auschwitz and Ravensbruck camps to escape prison and justice in Nazi trial.

A portrait of the family life in the face of the mother’s passing away. Three growing children, including the film director, have accompanied the ill woman for good or for bad, while in the background there are incidents, incomprehensible at first sight, related to the conflict with the confrontational father. The documentary utilises the means typical for home video and the takes shot using a mobile phone, which are arranged into a non-chronological reconstruction of the state of mind of the three young people.

This short impression was made from the film footage which had not been used in the film ‘Hommage à Beksiński’ screened at the Film Festival in Cannes in 1986 and is a product of one artist’s fascination with another artist, outstanding painter Zdzisław Beksiński. It is an attempt to add extra meaning to well-known works by Beksiński using the means of expressions applied in the film. The challenge for the viewer is to discover references.

First piece of material documentation of Neurobot has been created in the project Normal Subjects, which centered on the futility of brain-mapping procedures and long-forsaken science of phrenology, as opposed to "normal" daily postures and routines by various subjects shown in 3-minute video loops, accompanied by 3-minute compositions.

A small pocket knife causes chaos in the house, and it is up to a stick man made of fruits and his trusty horse to stop him.

A warm-hearted comedy about a ten year old boy who wants to become a Pope. The protagonist is an alter boy, who finds out about an audition for a part of John Paul II in a musical. The boy approaches this task as if it was a holy mission, but his parents do not treat him seriously.

An elegiac documentary about Krzyżtopór Castle in the village of Ujazd, southern Poland. Built between 1627 and 1644 by Krzysztof Ossoliński. It was occupied until 1770 when it was destroyed by the Russian army during the military actions against the army of the Bar Confederation. Nowadays, the castle is classified as a permanent ruin. The film is a powerful meditation on lasting tradition and historical decline; The images are accompanied by a folk ballad about the castle’s history, performed by the village choir from Iwaniska.

A moving documentary depicting a recent and very candid interview with Wojciech Mlynarski, in which we learn about previously unknown archival photographs and music videos. The film is complemented by more than 30 statements from his closest friends who collaborated with the artist on many occasions: Janusz Gajos, Janusz Glowacki , Jerzy Derfl, Janusz Senta, Wlodzimierz Korcz, Ewa Bem, Janusz Stoklosa, Irena Santor, Michal Bajor, Magda Zawadzka, Krystyna Janda, Family and those who worked with and for him: prominent composers, actors, singers. This extraordinary film shows the true face and difficulties that Wojciech Mlynarski faced, not only as an artist, but also as a person.

A cinematic journey on the trail of a mysterious filmmaker. Prince Michal Waszynski, Poland's top pre-war, director who later became an influential figure in the broader European film scene. He produced big Hollywood cinema hits with Sophia Loren and Claudia Cardinale, but his most spectacular creation was his own life. Prince Michal was an extraordinary human chameleon who, with the help of the magical invention of cinema, continually changed his identity.

A nightmarish vision of Lady Macbeth

Friendship, love and the Bear. Lili tells us about her great adventure with a furry friend, and all its ups and downs.

A documentary about the hard work of the workers in the reconstruction of the Bieszczady road.

In the spring of 1944 in Poland, near the end of WWII, Janina faces a huge change in her life when her father decides to offer a shelter to his Jewish friend’s daughter Ester. One day, her father is arrested and Janina starts to take care of Ester by herself and in doing so secret emotions rise between them.

The subject of the film is censorship in the broadest sense, and the narrator and guide of this story is the non-existent Mr. N. - a limited, though not humorous dignitary-censor. His inner monologue gives the whole film a certain course, and also "gives credibility" to the statements of artists, critics and officials of the time. In the documentary, almost all the prominent directors, screenwriters and critics of the post-war 50 years speak about artistic freedom and its restriction. We listen to Czesław Miłosz, Jerzy Stefan Stawiński, Janusz Morgenstern, Maria Kaniewska, Kazimierz Kutz, Janusz Głowacki, Feliks Falk, Wojciech Marczewski, Marek Piwowski, Janusz Kijowski, Wiesław Saniewski, Marek Ryszard Groński and Krzysztof Zanussi. There were also reviewers: Krzysztof Teodor Toeplitz and Zdzislaw Pietrasik.

Andrii has been preparing for his family's move for months. However, the monotony of everyday life is interrupted by a sudden message. How much can the world change in one day?

One evening, a young man falls into a depressive state. Non-narrative art story that demonstrates the beauty of gloomy moods to the viewer. Doomsday poetry.

A special agent travels back in time killing future criminals while they are still children.

The two Michaels, on their way to the cinema, experience many exciting adventures. On the spot, they learn that the film was about them and their adventures.

A ceremonial blessing and hanging of the new bell takes place within a temple.

Piotr is preparing for an exhibition of his drawings in Drohobych, Ukraine.

A student film that is a parody of popular para-documentaries broadcast on Polish television. Agnieszka realizes she's failing her film analysis class. To earn money for conditional pass, she commits immoral acts.

A journey between reality and a dream, the film takes us through the life of a legendary Polish musician.

When Jadzia finally breaks under the weight of her fanatically religious mother, a world of hallucinations, visions, and violence opens before her, leading to a final act of liberation.

A young cleaner, exploited and mistreated by her employer, quits her job to work as a bricklayer at a nearby construction site.

Teresa's peaceful life is turned upside down when a stain on her kitchen window is declared a miracle. As pilgrims flock to the house and her husband, Henryk, blossoms in the spotlight, Teresa feels increasingly invisible. Torn between her faith, societal expectations, and her own desires, she struggles to regain a sense of self in a world that ignores her.

Is he loved? Does he love? Can he be loved?

Stand-up comedy show by Abelard Giza