The programme of screenings included "Neon" by Eric Bednarski and two films of the documentary series "Guide to the Poles" produced by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute: "Beats of Freedom" and "Political Dress".
In "Neon", Bednarski recounts the history of Warsaw's neon signs from the pre-War period to modern times. By telling their stories, the director recounts the tumultuous past of Poland in the 20th century. For Bednarski, the neon signs reflect the changes in mentality of Poles over a period of several decades. The film is composed of many found footage materials and photographs showing Warsaw by night over the pre-War period and through the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. The audio commentary is composed of interviews with visual artists, architects, art historians, neon sign designers and manufacturers, and the music composed by Daniel Bloom refers to the times and places the film depicts.
Tracing the origins of Polish rock and roll in communist Poland, Wojciech Słota’s "Beats of Freedom" shows how music was an expression of rebellion against the regime, a sphere of personal freedom and a call for action. Through the eyes of Chris Salewicz, a British journalist of Polish heritage and a veteran of Rock-n-Roll, "Beats of Freedom" is a film about one of few aspects of everyday life that gave a bit of elbow room in an otherwise constrained society. Explaining the meaning of music in times when telling jokes about the government could lead to severe prison sentences, the film illustrates how music from the West managed to penetrate through the Iron Curtain and ignite a flame in Poland that led to the development of Polish rock.
"Political Dress" directed by Judyta Fibiger is a documentary about those who during communism times in Poland rebelled against an army of uniform people, a film portraying fashion as a personal weapon against an oppressive regime. From the hard-headed Stalinist era, when colorful socks were reprimanded by the militia, through a fascination with Parisian fashion in the '60s, the flower children of the '70s up through the martial law period and the punk-rock '80s, "Political Dress" offers a look at Poland’s style evolution. The documentary presents the stories and opinions of stylish personalities of the day, including photographer Tadeusz Rolke, designer Barbara Hoff, the writer Janusz Głowacki, "Biba" fashion founder Barbara Hulanicki, musician Tomek Lipiński and contemporary painter Wilhelm Sasnal.
Organizer: Culture.pl
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