Talking about Polish directors, Krzysztof Kieslowski springs to one’s mind instantly. There is another chapter in Polish cinema history that most are not familiar with. The term ‘New Wave’ had not yet been known in 1950, but a group of young directors namely ‘Polish School’ were up and coming. Although still in the communist cage, they caught the moment when Stalin (the leader of Russia at the time) passed away to re-investigate history and question mainstream values. Expressing and creating what they wanted, they made wave in cinema.
Andrzej Wajda, the first of this new wave who won the Honorary Award at the Oscar in 2000, is the creator of many classic works such as ‘War Trilogy’, ‘Man OF Marble’ and its sequel ‘Man of iron’. He does not shy away from criticising the society at the time, concerning the people and their lives with the backdrop of the historical and political background.
Roman Polanski does not focus on politics, but the dark side of human instead. Polanski made ‘Two Men and a Wardrobe’ before he even graduated, which drew much attention; And then he filmed three actors, a boat and a knife in ‘Knife in the Water’; the young Catherine Deneuve was placed on an emotional rollercoaster in ‘Repulsion’.
Most of the ‘Polish School’ directors graduated from the National Higher School of Film, Television and Theatre in Łódź. The list also includes others such as Krzysztof Zanussi, Jerzy Skolimowski and Andrzej Munk. The last but not least is Walerian Borowczyk. Known for his surrealistic animation, Borowczyk’s quirky creativity is uniquely outstanding. He later changed course to focus on erotic films, embracing creative freedom with many exquisite cinematic images.
Text: Ernest Chan Chi Wa | Translation: dilettante
Photo Courtesy: Film Programmes Office
Update: 02 Jan 2009
