Artur Żmijewski, Photo from film set: "Fourth Day of National Mourning", source: www.krytykapolityczna.pl
Katastrofa is a documentary film that follows the public's explosive reaction to the Smoleńsk tragedy and the rituals of the nation in mourning
Directly following the crash of April 10, crowds of people swarm the streets of Warsaw to pay their respects to the dead. Over the next 11 days sentiments of sorrow and unity prevailed, yet slowly two very diverse segments of the population come head to head, exposing a portrait of a nation divided by economic and religious convictions. The mask is discarded, revealing a society with a tendency for hostility and violence when their beliefs appear to be challenged. The Catholic church is accused of having manipulated the tragedy for their own benefit, using the strength of patriotism and heroism to wind up the church-going public, while the secular opposition fears the rise of the influence of the church within the state.
Artutr Żmijewski's Katastrofa / Catastrophe shows the situation in all its dimensions, along with a depiction of some very universal rituals that the public tends to go through following a tragedy on such a scale. The work also takes on a critical dialogue with the documentary film Solidarni 2010 / United in Solidarity by Ewa Stankiewicz and Jan Pospieszalski.
The screening of the film is presented by Żmijewski himself, who is also to lead a discussion on the topics touched upon in the film. The presentation makes up a component of the artist's doctoral work within the department of Media Art and Scenography at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. He is advised on the project by Professor Grzegorz Kowalski.
This is the film's first showing in Poland. Previously, it was presented in Amsterdam during the 23rd International Documentary Film Festival and the 29th Biennale in São Paulo this year.
- Artur Żmijewski, Katastrofa
Poland, 2010
Colour, video, 59 min.
Camera: Łukasz Konopa, Artur Żmijewski, Rafał Żurek.
Editing: Leszek Molski.
Sound editing: Marcin Bociński.
The film premieres December 17, 2010 at 17:00 in the screening room at the Zachęta National Gallery of Art. Free entry.
Source: press materials and www.idfa.nl