In 1968, Polański made the psychological thriller, Rosemary's Baby (1968), in Hollywood. A freightening tale of Satanism and pregnancy, after forty years since its release, the film continues to thrill audiences and remains a cult classic in the history of horror film. Tess (1979) made in France, is an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's famous novel of te 19th century, Tess of the D'Urbervilles. The film received many prestigious awards, including three Oscars of six nominations. (From the commentary by Janusz Wróblewski.)
Screening Schedule by Titles:
Knife in the Water (94’) / 1962
• 1 November Saturday, 14:00
• 2 November Sunday, 15:00
Repulsion (105’) / 1965
• 1 November Saturday, 16:00
• 26 November Wednesday, 19:00
Rosemary's Baby (136’) / 1968
• 29 November Saturday, 14:00 & 19:00
Tess (186’) / 1979
• 8 November Saturday, 18:00
• 16 November Sunday, 17:00
Cul-de-Sac (113’) / 1966
• 5 November Wednesday, 19:00
• 29 November Saturday, 16:00
Roman Polański: Wanted and Desired (Documentary by Marina Zenovich)
• 13 November Thursday, 19:00
• 26 November Wednesday, 17:00
A world-renowned filmmaker, Roman Polański's works were also featured in February 2014, at the Pera Museum's selection from the Polish Film School. Polanski's most recent production Venus in Fur (2013) was recognized with distinction and controversy among various festivals.
Read more about Polański: Venus in Fur: Erotism Polański Style
Darkness Remains Dark: Agnieszka Holland
Paradoxes of the history of Central and Eastern Europe are one of the most important topics of
Agnieszka Holland's works. She is a director, screenwriter, producer, one of the most famous Polish filmakers and winner of multiple awards. It’s hard to find a more prolific universal and yet individual artist than Holland in Polish cinema. Holland is most recently realizing several episodes of the American-British TV series,
House of Cards.
Four different films by
Agnieszka Holland in eight screenings will also be presented at Pera Museum throughout November 2014. The films preent fou four different perspectives on heroism, sacrifice, suffering and banality of goodness crushed by an omnipresent and invisible dictatorship.
Screening Schedule by Titles:
Fever / Goraczka. Dzieje jednego pocisku (122’)/ 1981
• 16 November Sunday, 14:00
• 25 November, Tuesday, 19:00
Europa Europa (112’) / 1990
• 12 November Wednesday, 19:00
• 27 November Thursday, 19:00
In Darkness (145’) / 2011
• 15 November Saturday, 19:00
• 3 December Wednesday, 19:00
Burning Bush (231’) / 2013
Burning Bush 1
• 15 November, Saturday, 14:00
• 6 December, Sunday, 14:00
Burning Bush 2
• 15 November, Saturday, 16:00
• 6 December, Sunday, 16:00
Read more about Holland: 10 Reasons Why Hollywood Wants Agnieszka & "I Have the Freedom Gene" - Interview With Holland
Orientalism in Polish Cinema
Polish cinema - until recently - generally ignored Middle Eastern and East Asian cultures on the screen. In rare cases, Polish filmakers essentialize these societies as wild, mysterious, static and undeveloped. Recent events related to the Arab revolution, revival of Islamic fundamentalism have changed this way of looking. Three films are particularly representative of this new perspective:
Papusza (2013), directed by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze is a romantic tragedy of lost rights, lost affection, and alienation of non-conformists by society. It points out to a bigger reality that the actual loser remains the community itself, and the significance of this loss is crucial to European social anatomy.
Another film is Adrian Panek’s Daas (2011), which is a biography of Jakub Frank, a Jewish religious leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of the self-proclaimed messiah Sabbatai Zevi and also of the biblical patriarch Jacob. Daas is a tale of his power, but also of the origins of an unavoidable defeat.
And finally, The Master (2006) directed by Piotr Trzaskalski presents a fictional or better yet an archetypal bio. The work shows influences from Asian spirituality and Eastern religiosity with reference to Andriej Tarkowski. The tempo is slow, characters are well developed, the cinematography is excellent. Long and artistic takes were attention capturing and worked well with minimalist conversation style.
Screening Schedule by Date:
5 December, Friday, 19:00 - Daas
6 December, Saturday, 19:00 - Papusza
12 December, Friday, 19:00 - Mistrz
17 December, Wednesday, 19:00 - Daas
21 December, Sunday, 14:00 - The Master
26 December, Friday, 19:00 - Papusza
Contemporary Polish Cinema
This is a representative selection of Polish feature films produced by young and talented directors between 2008-2013. All of them were awarded at A-class international festivals and spotted by ambitious European audiences. The common theme among the selectuion is the clash of value systems: catholicism vs. atheism, idealism in contrast with cynicism, solidarity vs. wild capitalism. They break historical and moral taboos, ask about the meaning of democracy, reveal several important topics and problems including, settlement of guilt and sins, exploitation of people, justice, social exclusion. Last but not least helplessness in the face of death.
On 20 December 2014, at 17:00, Leszek Dawid of You Are God will meet audiences in person. Scroll below for detailed screening schedule.
Among the selection is, an undisputed leader of the new generation young filmmakers, Małgorzata Szumowska (born in 1973). She specialized in consistently observing women placed in extreme existential situations. Her most prominent film 33 Scenes from Life (2008) about the inability to mourn for close relatives was awarded the Special Jury Prize at Locarno International Festival.
Another promising and unique figure from the younger generation is, Tomasz Wasilewski, the director of Floating Skyscrapers (2013) - first gay themed film in Poland (winner East of West Award in Karlove Vary).
The youngest of the bunch is Jan Komasa (born in 1981), the author of Suicide Room (2011) emotionally tean drama about extreme humiliation at school (premiered at Berlinale).
Screening Shedule by Date:
10 December, Wednesday
19:00 Mother Teresa of Cats
12 December, Friday
21:00 33 Scenes from Life
13 December, Saturday
14:00 Floating Skyscrapers
16:00 Life Feels Good
19:00 Lasting Moments
14 December, Sunday
14:00 Tricks
16:00 33 Scenes from Life
18:00 Mother Teresa of Cats
20 December, Saturday
15:00 You Are God
17:00 In Conversation with Director Leszek Dawid of You Are God
19:00 Suicide Room
21 December, Sunday
16:00 Suicide Room
18:00 Life Feels Good
24 December, Wednesday
19:00 Floating Skyscrapers
27 December, Saturday
14:00 Lasting Moments
16:00 Tricks
19:00 You Are God
The event is organized as part of the 2014 cultural programme, celebrating the 600th anniversary of Polish-Turkish diplomatic relations. To view our calendar of events, visit http://turkiye.culture.pl/en/events
Sources: Pera Museum press materials, own materials.
Edited by E.M. 01/12/2014