Jan Jakub Kolski's eleventh film, Jasminum (the Latin name of jasmine) tells a mysterious and magical story, full of sensuous scents, filled with the special light that love spreads around. The monastery in Jaśminowo, where the film is set, would be no different from any other if it were not for the fact that three of the monks living there have a very special quality. Each of them has his own particular fruity body scent: one smells of bird-cherry, one of cherry, and the third of plum, and the scents have some extraordinary properties...
One day a young female art restorer arrives at the monastery, and is commissioned to restore the paintings there. Natasza comes to Jaśminowo with her 5-year-old daughter Gienia. The little girl's charm and inquisitive nature brings a great deal of confusion into the monks' so far peaceful lives... Natasza also becomes interested in the scents given off by the three monks. She tries to solve their mystery. In this story, people and buildings and scents have their secrets.
"Krzysztof Kieślowski once sent me a few friendly words, among them these: 'I value you for your seriousness and sense of humour'. He was the first to notice this duality in which there is no contradiction. A sense of humour and attentiveness. A combination of these two elements can result in an extraordinary film. Those were my calculations when I wrote 'Jasminum'. And, of course, one more calculation, the most important one: to enjoy the smiles of the audience leaving the cinema", said Jan Jakub Kolski.
- Jasminum, Poland, 2006. Screenplay and directed by Jan Jakub Kolski, director of photography: Krzysztof Ptak, music by Zygmunt Konieczny, production design by Joanna Doroszkiewicz, produced by Michał Szczerbic, costume design by Ewa Helman-Szczerbic. Featuring: Grażyna Błęcka-Kolska (Natasza), Janusz Gajos (Friar Zdrówko), Wiktoria Gąsiewska (Gienia), Adam Ferency (Kleofas), Krzysztof Pieczyński (Friar Czeremcha), Grzegorz Damięcki (Friar Śliwa), Dariusz Juzyszyn (Friar Czereśnia), Franciszek Pieczka (Saint Roch), Monika Dryl (Patrycja), Bogusław Linda (Zeman), Krzysztof Globisz (Mayor), Patrycja Soliman (Jasminum), Marta Dąbrowska (Anielica), Cezary Łukaszewicz (Young Friar Czeremcha).{C} Duration: 103 min. Premiering on April 26, 2006.
Awards:
- 2006
- Cieszyn ("Holiday Frames" Film Festival), Golden Horseshoe in the feature film competition: Jan Jakub Kolski - for best film; Janusz Gajos - for best actor; Grażyna Błęcka-Kolska - for best actress;
- Toruń (Film Summer): Jan Jakub Kolski - Audience Award;
- Gdynia (Polish Film Festival): Joanna Doroszkiewicz - award for production design; Jan Jakub Kolski - Silver Screen Audience Award;
- Rzeszów ("Happy End" Festival of Optimistic Films): Jan Jakub Kolski - award for the best professional feature film;
- Chicago (Polish Film Festival): Jan Jakub Kolski - Golden Teeth - audience award. - 2007
- "Eagle" Polish Film Award: Krzysztof Ptak - for best cinematography; Joanna Doroszkiewicz - for best production design; Ewa Helman-Szczerbic - for best costumes; Zygmunt Konieczny - for best music; Jacek Hamela - for best sound; Janusz Gajos - for best actor; Audience Award.
