14th Edition of Polish Film Festival, Los Angeles was opened on October 8 and continues until October 17. Here is the program for Sunday October 13, Monday October 14 and Tuesday October 15.
Laemmle’s NoHo7 Theatre, 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 (310-478-3836)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
7:00 p.m. Shorts & Doc. 4: THEM (One) by Marta Grabicka (16 min.) A story of three generations of women living together in poverty. Each presents a different attitude in life. The most different mother (Ewa Kasprzyk) and her daughter (Justin Bartoszewicz). Agata , although it is not easy for her to believe in yourself, trying to meet his dream of being an artist. Ambition girl does not understand her mother, who presents radically different approach to life. She does not work and he sees no reason to change their passive proceedings. Frustrated girl is back in her grandmother that motivates her to perform when his grandmother dies. When Agata decides to fight for each other, remembering words of support by women and by the way, mother and daughter relationships are improved.
STORM (Sztorm) by Piotr Brozek (19 min.) The marriage of Kaska and Pawel would be perfect if they finally moved out of Kaska’s mother’s flat. Paweł is a sailor, Kaska assists her mother at the florists’. The girl finds out she’s pregnant. Soon after she discovers the true colors of her husband. Their relationship is put to a difficult test. As the toxic mother-in-law witnesses the fight for love, she proves to be the source young couple’s conflict.
SANTA ROSA by Slawomir Grunberg (55 min.) In 1943 a group of 1434 Polish refugees from the Soviet Russia, including a few hundred orphans, arrived in an abandoned ranch of Santa Rosa at the invitation of the Mexican President. Santa Rosa, near Leon, Mexico became their home for the few years to come. Earlier in December 1942, Prime Minister of Polish Government in Exile – General Wladyslaw Sikorski arrived in Mexico to sign an agreement with President of Mexico Avila Camacho to set up such a camp. Mexico was the only country outside the British Commonwealth, which offered assistance in solving the humanitarian crisis of thousands of Polish civilians displaced in temporary camps in Iran. The exile from deep Russia to Mexico led the first group of Polish refugees through Los Angeles, where their ship docked on June 25th, 1943. To their surprise, the Americans locked them up in an internment center for the Japanese immigrants, who were perceived as enemies of the state. After the end of the war and the closing of Santa Rosa colony, only 87 refugees returned to Poland.
9:00 p.m. THE SECRET OF WESTERPLATTE (Tajemnica Westerplatte) by Pawel Chochlew (120 min.) Courage vs. fear, loyalty vs. egoism, patriotism vs. rationalism – set during the opening days of the Second World War, portraying an epic struggle that pitted Polish defenders against German forces. Depicting resistance in the face invasion, The Secret Of Westerplatte tells the story of fewer than 200 Polish soldiers who held off the first German attack of the war for seven days. The defense of Westerplatte is one of the famous events of the September 1939 campaign, and served as inspiration for the Polish military. Partly based on fact, the film revolves around a conflict between two great individuals: Major Sucharski and Captain Dąbrowski.
Thursday, October 17, 2013 (in person: Maria Mamona, Marek Probosz, Ryszard Bugajski, Olga Bieniek)
7:00 p.m. Shorts & Doc. 5: DAYDREAM OF THE SLEEPWALKER by Janusz Gilewicz (13 min.) Based on actual events from Janusz Gilewicz’s life, the movie chronicles his struggle to promote a project he believes will put him on the path to fame and fortune. An unrecognized painter encounters his own ego in a form of an uninvited strange guest. As a result of this encounter, the struggling artist is compelled to reexamine his views on art production
BLACK BOX (Czarna skrzynka) by Krzysztof Kowalski (80 min.) Documentary film about a famous Polish photographer Tomasz Tomaszewski. He is a photographer who has become famous both in Poland and all over the world. In the ’70 and ’80 was working for many Polish newspapers, documenting historical events in Poland. Since December 1981, during the Martial law he’s managed to do something almost impossible using his camera hidden in a glove. Those photos were smuggled abroad by diplomats and published in foreign press. What else did he do to make some unique photos was smuggling camera in a jam jar to Polish prisons. The most important and famous picture from this action was a photo of imprisoned Lech Walesa. This one was published in newspapers all over the world.
Very important part of Tomaszewski biography as a photographer is his 20 years long cooperation with National Geographic. He is the only one from Poland who has ever been working with the world edition of National Geographic. Tomaszewski was also publishing for such magazines as: Stern, Paris Match, GEO, New York Times, Time, Fortune, Vogue, Die Zeit, Elle.
9:00 p.m. THE CLOSED CIRCUIT (Uklad zamkniety) by Ryszard Bugajski (110 min.) Inspired by real events, THE CLOSED CIRCUIT is a compelling, strongly performed political thriller about greed and corruption in contemporary Gdansk, Poland, where some high-flying new entrepreneurs fall victim to the machinations of the city’s entrenched powers. The action begins in 2003, as young businessmen throw a grand fete to open their new factory. They’re partners in a fast-growing, highly successful company called Navar, which produces high-tech electronics using state-of-the-art equipment from Denmark. Lurking on the fringes of the festivities like some malevolent spider is district prosecutor Andrzej Kostrzewa (Janusz Gajos). A Communist Party stalwart from way back, Kostrzewa is a master manipulator and ruthless hunter who takes pleasure in eliminating weaker specimens. The businessmen are arrested and treated like dangerous criminals, accused of financial irregularities and money laundering. They are thrown into prison, where they face inhuman conditions, leaving Kostrzewa free to wheedle their shares from their significant others.
(Parking Info: Structure is located at 11144 Weddington St. next to the Art Institute (PLEASE NOTE: THE LOT IS ALSO LABELED AS “5250 PARKING”). With a Laemmle validation, parking is $2.00 for three and a half hours and $1.25 every 15 minutes thereafter).
Laemmle’s Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310-478-3836)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 (in person: Maria Mamona, Ryszard Bugajski, Marek Probosz, Olga Bieniek)
7:00 p.m. MANHUNT (Oblawa) by Marcin Krzysztalowicz (96 min.) Menhunt is a story of revenge of Corporal Wydra – specialist in execution of sentences – for treacherous assassination of his guerilla formation. It is also a story of psychological consequences of one betrayal which casts a shadow on lives of several people.
9:00 p.m. THE CLOSED CIRCUIT (Uklad zamkniety) by Ryszard Bugajski (110 min.) Inspired by real events, THE CLOSED CIRCUIT is a compelling, strongly performed political thriller about greed and corruption in contemporary Gdansk, Poland, where some high-flying new entrepreneurs fall victim to the machinations of the city’s entrenched powers. The action begins in 2003, as young businessmen throw a grand fete to open their new factory. They’re partners in a fast-growing, highly successful company called Navar, which produces high-tech electronics using state-of-the-art equipment from Denmark. Lurking on the fringes of the festivities like some malevolent spider is district prosecutor Andrzej Kostrzewa (Janusz Gajos). A Communist Party stalwart from way back, Kostrzewa is a master manipulator and ruthless hunter who takes pleasure in eliminating weaker specimens. The businessmen are arrested and treated like dangerous criminals, accused of financial irregularities and money laundering. They are thrown into prison, where they face inhuman conditions, leaving Kostrzewa free to wheedle their shares from their significant others.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
7:00 p.m. WOMEN’S DAY (Dzien kobiet) by Maria Sadowska (90 min.) Halina, a modest cashier in a chain store is dreaming of a better life for herself and her gifted 13 years old daughter – Misia. She soon gets her chance as Halina becomes the store manager. She discovers that the price for a higher salary and a better standard of living is dishonesty, manipulation and deceit. She turns from victim to villain to her former cashier friends. She is so consumed with her work that she fails to notice her daughter’s addiction to computer games. She will soon have to start her journey for forgiveness…
9:00 p.m. IT’S A PERFECT NIGHT FOR A SUICIDE (Od pelni do pelni) by Tomasz Szafranski (110 min.) A black comedy about a psychic who pretends to believe that magic exists, a gigolo who pretends to believe the psychic, an illusionist who pretends to be somebody else and a desperate woman who believes she will find true happiness in love… after she’s dead.
Tickets at Noho 7 & Royal: $11.00, Seniors: $8.00
Free admission to screenings of Documentary, Shorts and Animation Programs. Free admission to all screenings for Students with valid High School and College ID. Weekday double feature: $18.00, Seniors: $13.00, Discount Ticket Booklets: 5 different films – $40.00, 10 different films – $75.00, 15 different films – $100.00; Group Tickets: 10 tickets for the same film – $85.00, 15 tickets for the same film – $120.00. Pass to all screenings: $120.00 (Pass holder needs to be present 15 min. before the screening time)
For Passes, Ticket Booklets and Group Tickets call: 818/982-8827 or write to info@polishfilmla.org. Buy tickets on-line: www.laemmle.com; Free tickets only at each individual Theater Box Office. You may also check the festival’s web site.