"Beats of Freedom", dir. Leszek Gnoiński, Wojciech Słotal. "Brygada Kryzys", photographed by Michał Wasążnik
The rock documentary has won the main prize at the film festival in Oulu
Poland's Beats of Freedom, directed by Leszek Gnoiński and Wojciech Słota, beat out nine documentaries to take home the main prize and €2,500 at the independent cinematic event. The festival's focus is the link between music and politics, history and society - how the power of music served inspire civilisations all over the world. The 2011 jury included New-York-based director and scriptwriter Margarita Jimeno, Petri Varis, producer of the Rokumentti rock film festival in the Eastern Finnish town of Joensuu and Janne Nyyssönen, journalist and music critic.
The film delves into the world of underground rock music of the '80s. Legends of the revolutionary Polish rock scene share their memories about music, life and paranoid censorship. The film stars Polish music legends including: Marek Niedźwiecki, Krzysztof Skiba, Jurek Owsiak, Kazik Staszewski (Kult), Muniek Staszczyk (T. Love), Kora Jackowska (Maanam) and Tomek Lipiński (Tilt and Brygada Kryzys). In an era when life in Poland was controlled by the Communist regime, the music became a phenomenon, a social phenomenon of colossal power that gave people a taste of freedom.
The jury called it "an inspiring and important film, with an energetic account of the fall of communism, and the rise of music as a powerful source of creativity to combat oppression. The directors Wojciech Slota and Leszek Gnoinski crafted an impressive film incorporating great use of archival material, sound, music, and new interviews. Reminding us of the recent political events, this film speaks to a contemporary audience regardless of age, or background, and that music can be more than a product. A must-have soundtrack for any music lover".
According to director Wojciech Słota the film aims to "show how the vital twists and turns of the contemporary history of Poland left an impression on both the music and its message. It all becomes quite clear when these two worlds - of politics and of rock music - are "layered" onto each other". The music took on a very significant meaning for its generation, becoming the voice of a silent generation who found respite in records and festivals like Jarocin, which allowed them to enjoy a taste of freedom.
The Polish documentary competed in the main section of the competition, along with films from all over the world, including Cedric Dupire and Gaspard Kuentz's We Don't Care About The Music Anyway (France), Raphael Erichsen's Superstonic Sound: The Rebel Dread (Great Britain, Brazil) and the Matei-Alexandru Mocanu's The Shukar Collective Project (Romania).
Screenings of Beats of Freedom at MusiXine:
The film was produced by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute. Screenplay and direction: Leszek Gnoiński and Wojciech Słota
For more information on the festival, see: www.musixine.com.
- March 17, 2011 at 17:00 at the Valve Main Hall
- March 19, 2011 at 12:00 at the Studio