Mania. The history of cigarette factory worker, photo provided by organiser
Filmoteka Narodowa (National Film Archive in Poland) hosted the re-premiere of the silent film "Mania. The history of a cigarette factory worker” (1918) by Eugen Illes starring Pola Negri - the world-famous movie star of Polish descent
The ceremonial presentation of the film took place on 4th September 2011 at the Warsaw Philharmonic, accompanied by live music composed specially for the occasion by Jerzy Maksymiuk and conducted by the composer and performed by 10-person Wroclaw Chamber Orchestra Leopoldinum.
“Mania” is a masterpiece that survived the test of time. A dramatic plot, interesting characters, innovations in camera angles and a universal content concerning the relationship between man and art position the film above others in the silent cinema period.
A copy of the film owned by the Filmoteka Narodowa (National Film Archives) is probably the only one preserved in the world, and its digital reconstruction (in the advanced technology 4K) was done under the project "Conservation and digitalisation of pre-war feature films at the National Film Archive in Warsaw" (the project is co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund, Priority XI 'Culture and Cultural Heritage', within the framework of the Operational Programme - Infrastructure and Environment).
The re-premiere in Warsaw launched the film's international tour of five European capitals (Paris, Madrid, London, Kiev and Berlin), and constitute an important part of Polish cultural activities under the Polish Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of 2011. Presenting a wide audience the film considered to be lost is a significant Polish contribution to the important goals of Europrean cooperation – preserving our cultural heritage.
Organiser: Filmoteka Narodowa (National Film Archives)
Project has been realised within the Cultural Programme of the Polish EU Presidency in 2011.
Source: National Film Archives