Dybbuk, as a film infused with the atmosphere of passing and death, gained new meanings following the Holocaust and, nowadays, it is sometimes read as a symbol of the fate of the Polish Jews. Moreover, the legend adapted by Ansky was later interpreted again many times: the drama was staged by Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Warlikowski among other artists and Agnieszka Holland directed an excellent television drama based on the text in 1999. Even though the pre-war version of Dybbuk is not completely successful in terms of its narrative, it remains unique not only to Polish but also to the global Jewish-themed cinema. The adaptation of Ansky's drama is also a very important piece in Michał Waszyński's rich body of work. After all, it is not a coincidence that the 2017 document about Waszyński, directed by Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski, is titled The Prince and the Dybbuk.
Dybbuk / Dybuk (Der Dibuk), Poland 1937, director: Michał Waszyński, screenplay: Andrzej Marek, Alter Kacyzne, cinematography: Albert Wywerka, music: Henryk Kon, scenography: Jacek Rotmil, Stefan Norris, starring: Leon Liebgold (Chanan), Lili Liliana (Lea, Sender's daughter), Mojżesz Lipman (Sender), Ajzyk Samberg (Meszulach), Abram Morewski (Cadyk Azriel from Miropoa), Gerszon Lemberge (Nisan), and others, production: Warszawskie Biuro Kinematograficzne Feniks, black & white, 100 minutes.
Originally written in Polish by Robert Birkholc, Sep 2018, translated by Patryk Grabowski, Sep 2018