Agenda
This season, which comes to its conclusion at the end of January, brings six different films for the Polish Cinema for Beginners fans. The season starts with a digitally remastered version of "Potop" by Jerzy Hoffman (29.10).
Later throughout the season the viewers are in for "Wesele" by Wojciech Smarzowski (12.11), digitally remastered "Nikt Nie Woła" by Kazimierz Kutz (26.11), legendary "Miś" by Stanisława Bareja (10.12), "Jańcio Wodnik" by Jan Jakub Kolski (7.01) and "80 Milionów" by Waldemar Krzystek. "We are striving to choose films from different times and by different directors who touch on a variety of topics that that help our audience embrace Polish history and culture," says Adam Kruk, the founder and coordinator of the Polish Cinema for Beginners programme. "This season features a number of films that were awarded at international festivals and reverberate with any audience at any part of the world," he adds.
How foreign viewers watch "Miś"
Do Spanish or English viewers share a sense of humour with Stanisław Bareja and his "Miś"? Can they understand jokes about tweaking the metre, potato mash with lard or coal stoles from Węgorzewska? "This is not an easy task," admits Adam Kruk. "We've nonetheless decided to show the film to find out if it works with our audience, just as it worked in the case of "Seksmisja" by Juliusz Machulski, which provoked both bursts of laughter from the audience and a heated debate after the show," he adds.
Screenings held at the Nowe Horyzonty Cinema are attracting the audience both with the films and meet-the-author sessions. This year's season brings Q&A sessions with Kazimierz Kutz, Jan Jakub Kolski and Waldemar Krzystek. Sadly, Jerzy Hoffman is not able to attend the season's opening due to bad health.
Directors cross-examined
The meetings are a great opportunity to cross-examine the directors. "The meeting with Agnieszka Holland attracted so many people that we had to organise a larger venue, and the audience asked both about her work in the US and the social and political situation in Poland," says Adam Kruk. The project is attracting more viewers each year. At the beginning, a small room for just 70 people at the Lower Silesia Film Centre did just fine, whereas current screenings require twice as many seats and are held at the Nowe Horyzonty Cinema. "We are on the rise," says Adam Kruk and adds that since its inception the Polish Cinema for Beginners has attracted over 2000 viewers.
The screenings usually attract Erasmus students, corporate professionals and foreign residents of Wroclaw. Some of them are the programme's regulars, some others (especially students) have to reached for at universities because Erasmus students come and go every few months.
The season's opening session for Polish cinema fans starts at 7 pm on 29 October with digitally remastered "Potop" by Jerzy Hoffman. Tickets cost 15 PLN.
