A scene from "Egzamin dojrzałości", directed by Marcel Łoziński
It's the day of the final oral exam in history and social studies at one of Warsaw's high schools. The exam consists of reciting the textbook-learned ideological formulas that are defunct both to students and teachers.
Marcel Łoziński's documentary "Matriculation" / "Egzamin dojrzałości" observes students waiting in the hallway to be called into the examination room, during the actual exam and after completion.
"I always say what I think and sometimes it works against me", says one of the students. He added: "Not here, God forbid".
Most pupils have trouble when asked questions about modernity: the principles of the socialist system, the role and structure of the Polish United Workers' Party, the rights and duties of its members, etc...
Schemes and conniving are skills useful from an early age. Double morals - were among the characteristics of the society of real socialism. People thought one thing, but said another. We understand very well, that a knowing smirk rolls in corners of the mouth. "I told them everything that was instructed", says one of the students without delay. Outside the examination room the students join together in laughing at their answers. A final graduation ceremony is held, handing out diplomas and copious thanks is given to the teachers. The celebrations are accompanied by a youth theatre group singing songs with lyrics such as: "Can we create beauty ...?".
The film illustrates the theatre of social life in PRL where one says different things on the stage and another behind the scenes.
In the booklet accompanying the set of Łoziński's DVD films issued by Polish Audiovisual Institute as part of the series "Polish Documentary School", Tadeusz Sobolewski aptly writes:
"The exam is a lesson in camouflage, conformism and doublethink, characteristic of the PRL. The camera acts as a lie detector, a vigilant observer of the examinees faces. (...) The exam room and hallway show a theater communist society, where one thing is uttered on stage, and another behind the scenes."
The film was produced in 1978, but its official premiere was held back for two years, with a release in 1980.
"Matriculation" / "Egzamin dojrzałości", Poland 1978. Screenplay and direction: Marcel Łoziński, Cinematography: Jacek Petrycki, Witold Stok, Editing: Łucja Ośko, Sound: Halina Paszkowska, Production manager: Jerzy Tomaszewicz. Production: Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych w Warszawie. Black and white, 17 min.
Awards:
- "Brown Hobby Horse" for best documentary film - ex aequo with "Próbą mikrofonu" - at the 21th National Short Film Festival in Kraków, 1981.
Author: Jerzy Armata, March 2011