While many an Argentinian knows who Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Kieślowski and Agnieszka Holland are, the founders of ProAmerica - an organisation spreading knowledge of Polish culture through films and theatre - are often asked about contemporary Polish cinema. "What's worth seeing? Our festival has the answer", Agnieszka Herbich and Robert Kowalski declare.
The BAP CINE selection is prudent and representative. Argentinians will get a chance to see a much-liked pastor struggle with his sexual urges - awakened by his encounter with a young man - in Małgorzata Szumowska's In the Name Of, a "very up-to-date commentary about the present situation in Church". They can observe three generations of men try to get along despite many similarities and prejudices causing them to bicker and lock horns, in Piotr Trzaskalski's My Father's Bike. And feel the despair of two parents who watch their son become more and more immersed in the virtual world, in Jan Komasa's Suicide Room.
Features aside, the Buenos Aires festival is the place to catch a couple of Wajda School documentaries: Radka Franczak’s Losing Sonia, a documentary that depicts the story of the Greek Orthodox church and contemporary Russia's renaissance of deep spirituality through a family narrative, and Marta Minorowicz's Decrescendo, capturing the inner beauty and peace of the patients in a retirement home.
The festival hosts a special guest, Leszek Dawid who told the story of Paktofonika, one of Poland's pioneer hip-hop collectives, in his highly rated, award-winning You Are God (also shown at BAP CINE). Furthermore, it would not be a Polish-Argentinian event if it wasn't for Wojciech Staron's gorgeous documentary about his family's experience of moving to the country in Argentinian Lesson.
The festival is made possible through a cooperation of Pro America and Lidka Produce. The screenings take place at the Gaumont cinema.
Film selection for the 1st Festival of Polish Cinema in Buenos Aires:
Edyta Wróblewska - The Girl from a Reading Primer
Piotr Stasik, Thierry Paladino, Marcin Sauter, Maciej Cuske - Andrzej Wajda. Let's shoot!
Marta Minorowicz - Decrescendo
Radka Franczak - Losing Sonia
Małgorzata Szumowska - In the Name Of
Bartosz Paduch - Genius Nº 129957
Wojciech Staroń - Argentinian Lesson
Marcin Krzyształowicz - Manhunt
Kasia Adamik - The Offsiders
Jakub Piątek - Mother
Piotr Trzaskalski - My Father's Bike
Marian Marzyński - Never Forget to Lie
Edyta Wróblewska - PPR De Luxe
Jan Komasa - Suicide Room
Bartosz Paduch - No visa
Leszek Dawid - You Are God
Marcin Wrona - Telephone
Jacek Borcuch - All That I Love
Agnieszka Smoczyńska - Viva Maria!
Go to the BAP CINE website.
Author: MJ 23.10
Sources: BAP CINE, culture.pl, Polish language article by BS