the divided nation. the war and the post-war revival. polish history and cinema
TRANSCRIPT
Polish History Animated history of Poland
Crash-course in Polish history
The three factors solidifying the tormented nation:
1. History and national classics.
2. Language.
3. Religion (Roman Catholicism).
Warsaw Fighting BackWarsaw Ghetto uprising in
1943. Brutally suppressed, 13 thousand people died. 50 thousand survivors exterminated in death camps.
Reflected in Polish films:
Border Street (1948) by Aleksander Ford, A Generation (1955) and The Holy Week (1995) by Andrzej Wajda, The Pianist (2002) by Roman Polanski, and many more.
Warsaw Fighting Back Warsaw Uprising on August
1, 1944.
Organized by Polish resistance Home Army (Armia Krajowa).
Lasted for 63 days. 16 thousand resistance fighters died, along with about 200 thousand civilians.
The End of the Uprising Unsupported from outside,
the uprising collapsed. Surrendered on October 2, 1944.
In January, 1945 Warsaw liberated by the Soviet Red Army and the Polish First Army.
By January 1945, 85 % of Warsaw was destroyed.
Documentaries.
Rebuilding Film IndustryNationalization of film industry (state-controlled
cinema). 409 cinemas opened throughout Poland.
Film Polski established (organization for production and distribution of Polish films).
Łódź Film School created (1948). Andrzej Munk and Andrzej Wajda among its first graduates.
Financial support from the government. Steadily growing production since 1947 (though only 7 films released up to 1950). Polish-made projectors and film.
Downsides: many experienced filmmakers died or emigrated; Soviet ideological pressure; Communist censorship.
First Post-War Films The experience and
memories of the war provided themes and inspiration.
The first post-war feature film: Forbidden Songs (1947&49)by Leonard Buczkowski. Two versions: censorship applied.
The Last Stage (1947) by Wanda Yakubowska and Border Street (1948) by Aleksander Ford.
The first post-war comedy:The Treasure (1948) by Leonard Buczkowski.