New Polish Films: WITH SENSE AND SENSIBILITY Andrzej Wajda’s School: THE MASTER AND HIS TRAINEES “Peter and the Wolf”: SECOND OSCAR FOR A FILM MADE IN SE-MA-FOR STUDIO Russia, Afghanistan and Belarus: IN POLISH DOCUMENTARIES „PETER AND THE WOLF” Polish Cinema 2008 THE TRAGEDY OF PRISONERS OF WAR, THE MISERY OF THEIR FAMILIES ANDRZEJ WAJDA’S “KATYŃ” Polish Cinema 2008 editorial “Kino” monthly , a journal providing a perceptive and original insight into various aspects of the film industry, has accompanied Polish cinema for over forty years now. In line with this tradition, in this special English language issue, we present a selection of articles published in “Kino” in the last year. They include reviews, interviews, as well as articles concerning the history of Polish cinema and opinion columns. However, we focus on the most interesting Polish feature films (of which 41 have been made there between the beginning of 2007 and May 2008), as well as documentary and animated films of the last year. Some of them could be seen at various international festivals, where they received numerous awards. The most prestigious award, an Oscar, came to the short animated film, “Peter and the Wolf”, which is a British-Polish co-production, directed by Suzie Templeton and made in the Studio Se-Ma-For in Łódź. On the other hand, the most awarded Polish film was “Tricks” by Andrzej Jakimowski, which till April 2008 received 12 awards, including at the festivals in Gdynia, Venice, Tokyo, Mannheim, Sao Paulo and Miami. However, what counts more than awards is the fact that Polish viewers have regained pleasure in watching Polish films. In 2005, the total number of viewers watching Polish films in cinema was only 700,000; in 2008 it was over 8 million. It is also worth adding that many of recent Polish films are international co-productions with German, Austrian, Italian and Dutch partners. In this special issue the new Polish films are presented by their authors, and reviewed by the best Polish critics, including some young ones. We also write about some films which are currently in production due to interest they attracted. NEXT ISSUE OF “KINO POLISH CINEMA” IN SPRING 2009 TO ORDER FREE COPY SEND US YOUR MAILING ADDRESS TO: [email protected] 2 KINO 10.2005 POLISH CINEMA 2008 KINO 3 COVER: MAJA OSTASZEWSKA AND ARTUR ŻMIJEWSKI Polish Cinema 2008 Contents IN ANDRZEJ WAJDA’S “KATYŃ” New Feature Films: 60 Years Of Polish Animation: 6 LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE 50 ANTIDOTE FOR KITSCH INTERVIEW WITH ANDRZEJ JAKIMOWSKI , ADRIANA PRODEUS ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE PRESENT DAY OF POLISH ANIMATION THE DIRECTOR OF “TRICKS” I just adore authentic things. I could look at them for hours. 53 ABOUT PETER, BAD PEOPLE AND THE WOLF ANDRZEJ KOŁODYŃSKI ABOUT FILM “PETER AND THE WOLF” 9 KATYŃ: A FELLOWSHIP OF SILENCE From among hundreds of proposals from all over the world, the Se-ma- INTERVIEW WITH STANISŁAW M. JANKOWSKI , THE HISTORICAL CONSULTANT FOR THE FILM “KATYŃ” for Studio in Łódź was chosen. The decision was probably influenced by the fact that here was made another Oscar-winning animation, 16 TWO WOUNDED PEOPLE Zbigniew Rybczyński's “Tango”. AN ACTRESS KINGA PREIS TALKS ABOUT THE NEW FILM BY JERZY SKOLIMOWSKI ENTITLED “4 NIGHTS WITH ANNA”. 56 HUMANS AND VIRUSES INTERVIEW WITH GRZEGORZ JONKAJTYS , 18 DEMOLISH OR LOVE DIRECTOR OF THE ANIMATED “THE ARK” DIRECTOR ŁUKASZ PALKOWSKI TALKS ABOUT HIS DEBUT FILM “PRESERVE” "TRICKS" 59 REVIVE THE SPIRIT, SET THE BODY IN MOTION IWONA KURZ ABOUT THE WORKS OF WALERIAN BOROWCZYK 24 THERE WAS ONLY ONE FATHER JERZY "PETER AND THE WOLF" INTERVIEW WITH THE MAKERS OF “POPIEŁUSZKO”: RAFAŁ WIECZYŃSKI , THE DIRECTOR AND AUTHOR OF THE SCREENPLAY, AND ADAM WORONOWICZ , THE LEADING ACTOR. Reviews: 27 WHEN LOVE WAS A CRIME DIRECTOR WALDEMAR KRZYSTEK 63 FEATURE FILMS TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW FILM “LITTLE MOSCOW” 64 “KATYŃ” For the young boys and girls, Katyń has been a 32 THE EXCLUDED boring subject of the history lesson. And this DIRECTOR KASIA ADAMIK TALKS ABOUT HER NEW FILM “THE OFFSIDERS” film threw them between the grinding stones of Nazism and Stalinism. I began my research by visiting night shelters and hostels. 67 “TRICKS” The most shocking thing for me was to learn how easily 69 “A FEW PEOPLE, A LITTLE TIME” one can become homeless. 70 “TIME TO DIE” 72 “TWISTS OF FATE” 41 ALMOST A PSYCHODRAMA 73 “GLASS LIPS” INTERVIEW WITH MAŁGORZATA SZUMOWSKA , 74 “PRESERVE” THE AUTHOR OF “33 SCENES FROM LIFE” "THE OFFSIDERS" 76 “GOD'S LITTLE GARDEN” 44 A LADY FROM THE PAST ERA 77 DOCUMENTARIES DIRECTOR DOROTA KĘDZIERZAWSKA AND CINEMATOGRAPHER ARTHUR REINHART 77 “IF IT HAPPENS” TALK ABOUT THEIR LATEST FILM “TIME TO DIE” 78 “KITES” "KATYŃ" 78 “THE FIRST DAY” 46 KRZYSZTOF ZANUSSI ABOUT “QUEEN HEDWIG” 80 “A LESSON OF BELARUSIAN” NEW FILM PROJECT OF THE AUTHOR OF “IMPERATIV” AND “LIFE AS A FATAL SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED 81 “LAKE PEARL'S” DISEASE” 82 “EXISTENCE” Also In The Issue 48 OUT OF NOSTALGIA FOR THE MARVELLOUS INTERVIEW WITH ANDRZEJ MALESZKA , THE DIRECTOR OF THE TELEVISION SERIES “THE MAGIC TREE” 21 THE SCHOOL OF FILM, Columns THE SCHOOL OF LIFE IWONA CEGIEŁKÓWNA ABOUT THE ANDRZEJ WAJDA MASTER Classics 89 OUTTAKES: “FILTERING” SCHOOL OF FILM DIRECTING BOŻENA JANICKA 12 50 YEARS OF THE POLISH FILM SCHOOL - THE PARADOX OF THE 29 LOOKING THE TRUTH IN THE EYES RECEPTION OF “KANAL” BY ANDRZEJ WAJDA 90 IN MY OWN WORDS: “A SECRET TADEUSZ SOBOLEWSKI ABOUT TADEUSZ LUBELSKI SERVICE REPORT” WORKS OF MARCEL ŁOZIŃSKI TADEUSZ SOBOLEWSKI 38 A MAN ALONE IN THE WORLD 35 AMERICAN DREAM IWONA KURZ ABOUT THE WORKS OF JERZY KAWALEROWICZ 84 FILM ORGANISATIONS, INTERVIEW WITH JANUSZ ASSOCIATIONS & FESTIVALS KAMIŃSKI , A POLISH IN POLAND CINEMATOGRAPHER WHO JERZY KAWALEROWICZ When he said in one of his interviews, “I saw everything as if I was looking from WORKS IN HOLLYWOOD behind the camera”, he revealed perhaps the most characteristic feature of his films. 86 CONTENTS IN FRENCH CONTENTS IN GERMAN CONTENTS IN SPANISH 4 KINO POLISH CINEMA 2008 POLISH CINEMA 2008 KINO 5 „TRICKS” „TRICKS” –Itry to avoid explicitly defined characters. I think that even the most consequences are unpredictable. But it is LIFE IS characters and I hope that I do not have prominent writers can’t do that. Of course, this unpredictability that gives him hope many of them in my films. sometimes I take a certain creative that maybe, with a bit of luck, he might Besides, I believe that you do not meet initiative, but I am not always pleased achieve his goal. such clearly defined people at all in life. To with the result and if, whilst working on I don’t believe in fate. Fortunately, life is tell you the truth, I don’t even seem the set and later in editing, I can’t find unpredictable and leads us through UNPREDICTABLE explicitly defined to myself. Of anything convincing, I simply abandon the winding paths. In my opinion it usually PIOTR ŚMIAŁOWSKI SPEAKS WITH course I envy those omniscient authors character or even the whole plot that leads us to our goal in the end, it can be and their characters who know everything surrounds them. kind. That is what I talk about in “Tricks”, ANDRZEJ JAKIMOWSKI about themselves, and in addition, eagerly – The protagonist of the film, a barely ten- but I would not call this kindness fate . reveal their desires, sufferings and various year-old boy, conveys an immense – Stefek (the name of the boy) shows – There has been a 5 year gap between your other experiences before the camera. sensitivity. As if he didn’t want to put off his stubbornness and perseverance in his début and the making of “Tricks”. You gave But I prefer my characters. They also feel father or as if he believed that he shouldn’t repeated gestures through which he asks the impression of not being at all worried something and strive towards something, try to interfere with the course of events too fate for kindness. It becomes a kind of ritual, that this process lasted so long, seeming to they just don’t like to talk about it. much. a childish prayer... The first film by Andrzej know exactly what you want and that you – Each of your characters is bound up with – The boy becomes aware of the fact – Yes, because the boy subconsciously will achieve it. a clear, distinct mood. Do you start creating that if he behaved in a different manner feels that fate is more likely to be generous ANDRZEJ JAKIMOWSKI Jakimowski, “Squint Your –Idon’t feel compelled to making the profile of a character by imagining he would put his father in a difficult when he consciously goes after what he films. I do it when I feel like it and a general atmosphere that surrounds them? position. Meanwhile, what he really wants wants. Through these gestures he tries to Eyes” (2002), suggested when I feel that I have something – Not really. By having an outline of is to reawaken in his father a wish to come influence matters that are out of his important to say, and this does not happen a character in my head I begin to wonder back, but without his father realising that control. all that often. Besides, my films are very about what takes, scenes, what situations he’s trying. The boy is at the stage of his – An important element of “Tricks” is the that its director possesses personal so I write the screenplays myself, could tell me and the viewers something life when a person begins to experiment ever present railway.