Still-frame from Elles, directed by M. Szumowska. Source: Kino Świat
Małgorzata Szumowska's Elles opened the New Polish Cinema series, presenting the best films from Poland over the past year - from features to shorts and documentaries
Kinoteka, an annual event dedicated to the best of Polish Cinema past and present, kicks off with a screening of Szumowska's Elles, starring Juliette Binoche. The film has received mixed reviews for its approach to young women selling sex to finance their university educations, while Binoche plays a journalist writing an article about such women and finding, to her surprise, that she identifies with them on a number of levels. The film is part of the New Polish Cinema section, presenting five days of features, animations and documentaries, including Greg Zgliński's Courage and Agnieszka Holland's Oscar nominee In Darkness. Robert Więckiewicz, who stars in both films, will give a Q&A session following the screening of Courage on February 9th. Other films include Black Thursday directed by Antoni Krauze, Jacek Bromski's Entanglement, Rafael Lewandowski's The Mole and Damian Nenow's award-winning animation Paths of Hate, along with a selection of shorts.
In celebration of the tenth edition of the festival, the 10X10X10 section presents 10 selections from renowned British and Polish filmmakers, setting out the milestones of Polish Cinema. This section includes Miroslaw Bałka's choice of Kanał directed by Andrzej Wajda, Mike Leigh's choice of A Short Film About Killing by Krzysztof Kieslowski, Jerzy Skolimowski's choice of Olympics by Bogdan Dziworski and Andrzej Wajda's choice of Article Zero by Włodzimierz Borowik. Kinoteka has also released a special edition box set of some of the best films in Polish cinema history, such as Andrzej Munk (Eroica, 1958; Pasazerka, 1963), Honorary Oscar recipient Andrzej Wajda (Kanał, 1956; Ashes and Diamonds, 1958; Innocent Sorcerers, 1960), Jerzy Kawalerowicz (Pociąg, 1959; Pharaoh, 1967) and Janusz Morgenstern (Goodbye, See You Tomorrow, 1960; Jowita, 1967; W-Hour, 1979). Severa l of these films will also be screened at the festival, such as Night Train (1959) directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz and Andrzej Wajda's Innocent Sorcerers (1960).
Kinoteka starts off in London on the 8th of March until the 22nd, with screenings in Belfast (16-20.03) and Edinburgh (13-16). Additional events include an exhibition of film posters from Krzysztof Kieslowski Decalogue from around the world. Cinema and Art are brought together with screenings of Lech J. Majewskij's Mill and the Cross, inspired by the Pieter Bruegel painting Procession to Calvary, at the National Gallery. Tate Modern is also hosting a series of short films by Polish artists, such as Agnieszka Polska and Hanna Włodarczyk's poetic documentary on Alina Szapocznikow.
The festival closes with a special concert of contemporary music by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood,. They perform works from the recently published album Krzysztof Penderecki And Jonny Greenwood, which includes the Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima and Polymorphia.
The 10th Polish Film Festival Cinematheque takes place in London, 8-22 March 2012, Belfast, 16-20 March, Edinburgh, 13-16 March 2012. The event has been organised by the Polish Institute in London.
For more information, see: www.kinoteka.org.uk