A true story that show the disintegration of an ordinary Polish family. A realistic film that makes references to the documentary form, the films storyline and dialogues were co-developed by the actors and directors.
A married couple in their thirties - Beata and Bartek, who have two children - take out a loan to buy a flat in Warsaw, and until it is completed, they decide to move in with Bartek's mother in Saviour Square. The developers go bankrupt and the young couple lose all their money. Mutual grudges come to the fore, and conflicts from years before are dragged out. They need to find someone to blame for their undeserved wrong.
Saviour Square takes place in a specific setting, but it is a universal work - a drama about the lack of love.
The drama of Beata, Bartek and Teresa involves many parameters: the cruelty of fate, coincidence, misplaced intentions. In reality it doesn't take much for a tragedy to occur", says Joanna Kos-Krauze. "First comes a thought, a bad thought, then words that can put the thought into action, and in the end there are only consequences. You wake up in the morning and cannot believe this is your life. Your terrible life.
The protagonists gradually sink deeper into cynicism and cruelty; into hatred which becomes an everyday thing.
Is there a way out of this predicament? Forgiveness. Thanks to forgiveness, these three managed to pick themselves up in the end. It's worth starting each day from the question 'Who am I?'. Answering this question throughout our lives, we gradually come to the essence, the meaning. If I can ultimately understand who I am, I will discard all that is trivial", says Krzysztof Krauze.
Saviour Square was given an extraordinary reception by Polish audiences - both critics and viewers agree that it is one of the most interesting films of recent years. It shows life "here and now", touching problems that any one of us could face at this moment.Just like Dług / The Debt set new standards for our film industry, Saviour Square stands a chance of being a film that will be remembered in the history of Polish cinema.
- Plac Zbawiciela / Saviour Square, Poland 2006. Screenplay and directed by Krzysztof Krauze, Joanna Kos-Krauze, director of photography: Wojciech Staroń, music by Paweł Szymański, production design by Monika Sajko-Gradowska, produced by Juliusz Machulski, costume design by Dorota Roqueplo. Featuring: Jowita Budnik (Beata), Arkadiusz Janiczek (Bartek), Ewa Wencel (Teresa), Dawid Gudejko (Dawid), Natan Gudejko (Adrian), Beata Fudalej (Edyta), Małgorzata Rudzka (Ola), Zina Kerste (Hania), Zuzanna Lipiec, Krzysztof Bochenek, Aleksander Mikołajczak, Krystyna Starościk-Labuda, Krystyna Karkowska-Krauze, Jerzy Gudejko, Witold Wieliński, Robert Ostolski, Halina Bednarz, Ryszard Mróz, Maciej Wojdyła, Hanna Kochańska, Beata Tyszkiewicz, Katarzyna Ankudowicz, Grażyna Petrycka. Produced by Studio Filmowe "Zebra", co-producer: Telewizja Polska, Canal+ Polska{C}. Duration: 105 min. Premiering on September 8, 2006.
Film awards:
- 2006
- Camerimage: Main prize in the Polish Film Competition for cinematographer Wojciech Staroń and directors Krzysztof Krauze and Joanna Kos-Krauze;- Polish Film Festifal in Gdynia: Grand Prix (Jury's Main Prize - Golden Lions) for Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze; Grand Prix (Jury's Main Prize - Golden Lions) for the film's producer, Juliusz Machulski; Award of the Polish President for "a special social sensitivity" for Joanna Kos-Krauze; Best actress award for Jowita Budnik; Best supporting actress award for Ewa Wencel; Award for best score for Paweł Szymański; Journalists' award for Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze; Award of the President of Polish Television for Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze.
Author: Joanna Pawluśkiewicz, December 2006