| Theatre Cinema / May 2012 |
 Krzysztof Kieślowski: The Polish School of Documentary 10 / 17 / 24 / 31 May 2012 The Grotowski Institute, Cinema Room, Rynek-Ratusz 27 Admission free Films in Polish with English subtitles Krzysztof Kieślowski (1941–1996) was an eminent Polish film director, documentary maker and writer. A graduate of the National Film School in Łódź, he has won multiple awards including the Golden Lion at Venice, the Silver Bear at Berlin, two golden Palms at Cannes (for The Double Life of Veronica and A Short Film About Killing), two Oscar nominations (Three Colours. Red for best screenplay and best director).  Thu 10 May, 6pm From the City of Łódź 1969, 17’, written by Krzysztof Kieślowski, produced by WFD (Documentary Film Studio)In his graduation film made under the supervision of Kazimierz Karabasz, Kieślowski uses the method he has learned from his Master. Equipped with a camera, he patiently documents places and events in a city where he lived for many years. Refrain 1972, 10’, produced by WFD The film’s black humour is already apparent in its working title: Funeral or a Game of Hide-and-Seek. Kieślowski lays bare the absurdities of life in communist Poland, showing clerks and customers in the municipal funeral parlour. Bricklayer 1973, 16’, produced by WFD Bricklayer is the portrait of a former hero of socialist labour and activist, who after October ‘56 gave up his party career and returned to his former job as bricklayer. The film proved to be so obscene that it was shelved for many years. The camera follows the protagonist, Józef Malesa, throughout the Labour Day – one of the biggest celebrations in the communist world. Thu 17 May, 6pm Life Story 1975, 45’, written by Janusz Fastyn and Krzysztof Kieślowski, produced by WFDExpelled from the communist party, the protagonist is brought before the Party Central Committee, which is to hear his appeal. He gives an account of his life and answers the most intimate questions often encroaching on his privacy. All facts from the man’s life are interpreted to his disadvantage, and the whole situation inevitably brings to mind Kafka’s Trial. Thu 24 May, 6pm X-Ray 1974, 13’, produced by WFDX-Ray is one of Kieślowski’s most personal documentaries. It was shot in Sokołowsko, where the director lived as a boy and where his father was treated and died in the local sanatorium. Hospital 1976, 20’, produced by WFD The film was based on a very general idea to make a film about heroism. Looking for the best embodiment of this notion, Kieślowski contemplated making a documentary about a mine rescue team, a volleyball team or monks before deciding to shoot a film about orthopaedic surgeons. Using a huge, extremely heavy camera that required additional lighting and recorded the picture on several-minute long cassettes, Kieślowski and his crew filmed poignant scenes in the emergency unit of a Warsaw hospital. Thu 31 May, 6pm Night Porter’s Point of View 1977, 16’, produced by WFDThis is Kieślowski’s only documentary in which the protagonist – the night watchman, an officious control freak who is in favour of public executions – is a villain. Seven Women of Different Ages 1978, 16’, produced by WFD A documentary observation of seven dancers: from the youngest – a few-year-old who is learning the first dance steps, to the oldest – an elderly lady who teaches young girls basic dance technique – which add up to a tale about the life of a single women. Talking Heads 1980, 14’, produced by WFD “Who are you? What are the things you want?”, asks Kieślowski in voice-over in this film-questionnaire. His questions are answered by Poles of different ages. The answers are arranged in chronological order. At the beginning of the film we see a baby born in 1980, at the end – a hundred-year-old woman. The date of birth of each interviewee appears at the bottom of the screen. Film descriptions after Mikołaj Jazdon In collaboration with the National Audiovisual Institute   |