Can one's appearance be a manifestation of liberty? Director Judyta Fibiger's film takes a look at Poland's style evolution, from the hard-headed Stalinist era, when colorful socks could get you 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 shows how bright colours and home-made tailoring can serve as a personal weapon against an oppressive political regime. In communist times fashion was an escape from the dullness of the everyday. In spite of the prevailing stereotype, socialist authorities weren't set on uniformity. Yet as a result of faulty economic management the government couldn't satisfy society's needs, including its needs in the wardrobe department. The Polish fashion industry was seriously lacking in all sorts of resources. In effect, citizens of the People's Republic of Poland sported a hum drum look that had nothing to do with personal expression.
The film is part of the Guide to the Poles series produced by the Adam Mickiewicz Insitute - a five-part series of whimsical films on how Poland's creativity flourished in tough times of political oppression, how rock music, fashion, child's play, mountain climbing and interaction with visitors from abroad drove the fight for freedom and helped shape an independent Polish spirit. The first two films in the series - Beats of Freedom and Toys - have already been presented in Poland and the world at several major festivals. The two remaining films - Art of Freedom (a film on how Polish climbers managed to overcome obstacles to become the best climbers in the world in the 1980s) and Art of Disappearing (a film on how visitors from Haiti gave Poles a different perspective on their day-to-day lives).
Political Dress presents images of stylish women in Poland, everyday women who managed achieve elegance in spite of shortages and limited funds. Polish women sewed their own clothes, inspired by hard-to-get foreign fashion magazines and finding ways to recreate these looks using the most meager resources. The film also presents people who were significant to the style scene at the time, such as Barbara Hoff, whose daring fashion column in Przekrój got her in hot water a few times and whose first independent collection nearly caused a riot in Warsaw's only department store when it first went on sale. Wojciech Plewiński, a photographer who also shot for Przekrój and put some of Poland's most beautiful women on his covers - everyday women, not just models - and fellow photographer Tadeusz Rolke, believed in the unique qualities of Polish women and made them feel good about themselves. Barbara Hulanicki, the creative soul behind the popular London shop Biba, traces her style and entrepreneurial roots back to Poland, while contemporary designer Anna Kuczyńska is making a mark not only in Poland, but across Europe and Asia.
The first edition of the Warsaw Fashion Film Festival takes place in Warsaw between the 6th and 8th of February, 2012, with screenings at the Luna Cinema. Political Dress is screened on the 7th (private screening by invitation only) and on the 8th (screenings open to the public). The event aims to promote Warsaw's designers and fashion industry through documentary and feature films. The festival also hosts a contest in four categories: Best Polish Mainstream Film, Best Foreign Mainstream Film, Best Polish Independent Film and Best Foreign Independent Film. The jury is made up of style personalities known in Poland, such as designer Maciej Zień and the editor-in-chief of the Polish edition of Glamour, Anna Jurgaś, as well as film director Judyta Fibiger.
Political Dress
Production: Adam Mickiewicz Institute, 2011
Direction: Judyta Fibiger, Screenplay: Judyta Fibiger, Ewa Olbrychska
Kino Luna Centrum Artystyczne
ul. Marszałkowska 28, 00-576 Warszawa
www.kinoluna.pl
Source: Warsaw Fashion Film Festival, Culture.pl
See more on the Warsaw Fashion Film Festival at www.W3F.pl.