Discoveries from Poland World Cinema

Scenes from the marital life of a dominant woman and a submissive man. The more she cares, the more he gives up and shrinks. One shot will finally cut this unequal balance of power.

This is the unknown story of Polish computer scientist Jacek Karpinski, who in the late 1960s and early 1970s constructed one of the world's first "PCs" - the most popular computers today. Unfortunately, Karpinski's achievement went in vain. The party banned him from production. The computer scientist who refused to comply was led out of the plant under rifles, and then took up breeding ... pigs in Masuria. Would Poland have been a computer superpower if his fate had turned out differently?

Reportage from the inauguration of the 1982/83 academic year at the Film School.

A report by a participant of the Bilbao film festival on his trip to Spain, captured in a series of impressionistic images. It is a country where tourists cannot communicate in any other language, not even Spanish. It is the country of bullfighting and Goya.

Spoken Film 6 is the latest part of the series, and the first one where the artist uses a puppet animation technique combined with photo animation. Also, it is the first time when the artist’s face is featured in the film, in the foreground, as if confirming the fact that all the films in the series actually contribute to a specific self-portrait. This black and white film is a story of a journey of the character, whose monologue describes the inability to contact his own mental states, fears and desires.

A subtenant with a parrot in a cage moves into a room in a block of flats. The bird greatly disturbs the landlord, who declares a "holy war."

Poetic tale about Kazimierz Dolny, a town by the Vistula river - true pearl of Polish urban architecture - told by its dwellers, historians Tadeusz Pałka and Tadeusz Michalak.

In a city whose selfish residents do not cultivate the title virtues, the hero appears with an unusual suitcase. It contains a paper model of an ideal city, reminding the hero of his place of origin: there people were kind and friendly to each other. When one day the city in the suitcase comes to life, the protagonist tries to share his ideals with the environment, which is fed by cheap sensationalism and brutality on a daily basis.

Six-year-old Junior is an exceptionally emotionally mature child. He expresses original, rather skeptical, existential thoughts. He has a dignified, masculine voice and loves to smoke cigarettes. In the cigarette smoke, he ponders his family and its psychological complexities. When his father, a famous pilot, crashes in China under unexplained circumstances and is accused of treason, Junior sets out on a journey to unravel the mystery of his mysterious disappearance. Written in the style of a crime novel, fairy tale, and magical realism, Junior's journey to Shanghai and the rocky Malacca Mountain triggers a series of questions about his famous father's secret life.

Zanadrze is a world where quarrelsome inhabitants build their crooked houses upside down on different levels, run up endless stairs, and hammer a stake through Grandma. The inhabitants form Grandma's Funeral Procession. Zanadrze is located in the middle of the Black Coat, who, in memory, plays the saxophone in the rain in the middle of the road until he is run over by a speeding car. The abandoned instrument is taken by Janko Muzykant.

Experimental actor-animated film, shot in one long take. The action takes place in the stairwell of a multi-story building, where there is one elevator and the alternative is the only staircase.

A funny adventure of a sailor who, as a castaway, lands on a desert island. Thanks to his clever tricks, he manages to escape the Cannibals and save his life.

An attempt to characterize Alexander Lukashenko's rule. Belarusian intellectuals speak out, drawing attention to the phenomenon of this presidency. Lukashenko, one of the most active opponents of communist rule and an excellent speaker, managed to gather the most talented politicians around him. At the same time, he made excellent use of the Belarusian mentality, skillfully using the media to proclaim the threat from the West and other populist slogans, including promises of universal prosperity. Despite repeatedly violating the constitution, he enjoys unwavering support among ordinary people. But is he a dictator in the full sense of the word?

In the factory hall, workers work with machine tools. Their moves are repeatable, the pace of work becomes faster and faster. The shimmering silhouette of a worker turns into a pulsating, dark spot. Finally, it disappears and the machine works itself.

Students at a school in Podkarpacie spend the entire spring and summer collecting herbs, and in the fall they enjoy the projector they earned themselves.

Gapiszon arrives at the station and all sorts of things happen.

The unusual atmosphere of Fantaisie Impromptu, in which anxiety gives way to subtle reverie, is conveyed through a sequence of dreamlike, poetic scenes. A cloud of black birds emerges from the piano keys. A ballerina dances to the sounds of Chopin's piece; the woman breaks away from the ground and swirls with the birds in the air. The music allows her to transcend the boundaries of the real world.

An animation with social commentary. Kazimierz Urbański uses symbolism and abbreviations to depict emerging conflicts between social classes. The whole work is realized in a form characteristic of the author, created through appropriate production processes directly on film stock.

The Emergency Call Center receives numerous phone calls every day. Connecting with various situations, big and small, the operators know no bounds in taking care of diverse callers. But who will help them deal with their emotions?

Educational documentary that illustrates the living conditions and importance of ants in environmental ecosystems.

A grotesque story of a certain family. The protagonist of the film is a successful, multi-talented politician who knows how to adapt to any situation. However, when it comes to domestic matters, he is pushed into a totally defensive position. All this is observed by the protagonist's son, who distances himself from the reality surrounding him by choosing his own way of continuing his father's path.

The film is about the suffering of a woman who is looking for her sons - about the tragedy of loneliness. It shows what war is for Russian society today, about the changes that have occurred in the mentality of an average citizen.

A filmed performance at the Satirics Theater in Warsaw, a cabaret theater operating from 1954 to 1975.

The colorful balloon undergoes constant metamorphosis. Eventually, it becomes a huge hand arranged in a fig, only to change immediately, however.

Mazurkiewicz, a lawyer from Radom, arrives in Warsaw to ask for Sabina's hand in marriage. Sabina is secretly in love with young Władzio Mącki, who, being preoccupied with the beautiful cabaret actress Kamilla, pays no attention to the young girl. At the request of the Mąckis, Mazurkiewicz goes behind the scenes to seduce her, but he himself succumbs to her charms and gets involved in an incredible scandal. Sabina follows Mazurkiewicz to the theater to warn her beloved, and when she meets Kamilla, at her urging, she changes into her dresses and imitates her mannerisms, winning Władzio's heart. Mazurkiewicz invites Kamilla to his hotel for dinner, where all the members of the Mącki family arrive one after another. Amidst spasms, arguments, and laughter, the situation is resolved to everyone's satisfaction.

Ciechocinek, Poland's most famous health resort, which has even inspired songs, welcomes thousands of visitors every year. Patients expect to improve their health in a short time and to feel better spiritually as well. The characters in the film undergo health treatments, but also enjoy walks in the sun, listen to concerts, and go dancing. Three weeks spent in one place is not really much, but it is enough to experience happiness.

The Evangelical parish in Wieldządż was established at the end of the 19th century. The rectory was completed in 1894. The church was built a little later. It was beautiful, richly furnished, and even had central floor heating. After 1945, it lost its function due to a lack of worshippers. The furnishings of the temple were distributed among other churches, and it was converted into a grain warehouse. For some time now, crowds of people, mainly young people, have been flocking there. They come not only from the surrounding area.

How low do you have to fall to finally desire to rise from the bottom? How strong do you have to be to do it? Michal Marian Pawlawczyk, the protagonist of Beata Januchta's poignant documentary film, experienced first-hand both extreme debasement and the miracle of rebirth. The film story of Michal covers two and a half years of his life. Michal has been drinking for 30 years, 20 of them heavily. It was alcohol that made him lose his family: his wife left him, taking their then two-year-old son, Maciek.

An attempt to answer the question about the ideals of today's youth. A group of high school graduates from Łódź (from High Schools No. 21 and 29) present their images of people who could become role models. The filmmakers used this meeting to write a script for a film about young people. Girls and boys work together to construct the plot of a contemporary picture.

In the world of fashion, banking, and the glamour of a luxury hotel, a man seeks the attention of a beautiful woman.

Paweł Kalina is a technician by education, but he cannot find a job and works in one of Warsaw's dance clubs as a bartender and singer. There he meets Ellen Ward, a young American journalist who is about to return to the US. Paweł, enchanted by the woman and deluded by the desire to realize his dream of a certain invention, wants to follow her.

Michał wants to create an ethical clothing brand. While visting Tanzania, surrounded by colorful fabrics and newly met friends, he comes up with the idea for his company. A friendship with Innocent, the owner of the sewing room, triggers this project. However, the more business they have in their relationship, the harder it is for them to stay friends.

Andrzej Stasiuk invites you along with him to Albania, speaking of his world, the human condition, and literature.

A coming of age story about young girl, which discovers her super powers. It happens, just when her "old" love returns to school. She tries to understand her new powers and feelings towards the boy.