After years of penal servitude, Jerzy returns home from the gulag. His wife and daughter await him at the doorstep. Jerzy rests, but the horrific memories are impossible to erase. The whole film is completely silent. Just the music and the pictures, which explain everything. Like the image of a stale slice of bread kept by Jerzy in the pocket of his coat, or the sight of a wheelbarrow falling down a precipice again and again. In fact it is impossible to tell whether Jerzy is dreaming about home in the Gulag, or if he's being tormented by memories of the Gulag at home. It is a vicious circle.
"Sisyphus returns from the 'other world', but he cannot forget his torment. Gustaw Herling-Grudziński could well ask Godfrejów how is it that he knows so much about hell... and about light." (Lech Kurpiewski, "Film")
Kręgi snu/ Circle of Dreams. Director, screenplay and cinematography: Bogumił Godfrejów. Sound: Jacek Kotoniak. Editing: Anna Adamowicz. Production: The National Film, Television & Theatre School in Lodz. Cast: Michał Michalski, Katarzyna Chmara, Anna Mielczarek, Tomasz Kobiela, Jacek Rokosz. 2000, colour, 10 min.
Awards:
- Golden Tadpole - main award to young artists at the International Festival of the Art of Cinematography "Camerimage" in Lodz, 2000.
Source: the catalogue "Young Polish Cinema", published by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, June 2007