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CHARLES COLEMAN
Film Programmer for Facets Cinémathèque

Read his feature in the Chicago Reader

November 2011

The Facets Cinémathèque is located at 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago. For more information on films playing in the Cinémathèque, please call 773-281-4114. To order advance tickets online, visit the TicketWeb website by clicking here.

The 23rd Annual
POLISH FILM FESTIVAL
IN AMERICA

November 4-10

"The Polish Film Festival in America offers one of Chicago's most in-depth showcases of a national cinema"
  -Chicago Sun-Times

The 23rd Polish Film Festival in America, one of Chicago's premier film events, will have over sixty features and documentary films made by Polish filmmakers. Throughout the Festival, audience members will vote for the most interesting feature and documentary film. The winners will receive the "Golden Teeth" Award.

Tickets to the Opening Night Gala will be available at www.pffamerica.com. Please call 773.486.9612 for additional information.

Friday, Nov. 4

LYNCH
(LINCZ)

A 60-year-old man is murdered in a small village in Mazury. Six local men are involved in the crime. The victim turns out to be a repeat offender who had terrorized people in the area for many years. The locals are accused of murder and immediately get caught up in the ruthless mechanisms of police investigation and legal action. The people of the village, along with the families of the accused men, unite to fight for an acquittal. A fictitious reconstruction of actual events from some years ago. (Warsaw Film Fest)

Directed by Krzysztof Łukaszewicz, Poland, 2010, 78 min.

Official site        

Showtime:
7 pm

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ROSE
(RÓŻA)

As turbulent as World War II itself, was the immediate rebuilding process, which saw many people displaced and forcibly relocated around new national borders. Rose is a story about people who tried to rebuild their lives in this difficult period. It follows Tadeusz, a former Home Army fighter, who travels to the Western region of Masuria to find the wife (Rose) of one of the fallen soldiers, and let her know of her husband's death. Their mutual attraction leads them to live together, balancing the difficulties of raising a family, and preserving normalcy amidst the lawless brutality of their Soviet occupiers. The people of Masuria, ethnic Germans now living within Poland's borders, live in constant fear of expulsion from the lands they've known their whole lives. A touching film about the need for love in times of despair, Rose shows the deep scars of war, and the perseverance and will needed to get past them. (PFFA)

Directed by Wojtek Smarzowski, Poland, 2011, 94 min.

Trailer     Variety        

Showtime:
9 pm

Saturday, Nov. 5

BLACK THURSDAY
(CZARNY CZWARTEK)

A grand, historical docudrama, Black Thursday reconstructs the events surrounding the Gdynia shipyard protests of 1970. On December 17th of that year, the protests led to political actions that mobilized the army to shoot at its own innocent civilians. The film specifically follows Brunon and Stefania, a young, hardworking married couple whose life gets forever altered that day. Brunon works at the shipyards, his only worry is whether he'll have presents for his family by Christmas. But unbeknownst to him and many other, political factors are at play that will destroy the balance of his simple life. Filmed like a documentary, director Antoni Krauze spectacularly recreates Poland in the 1970s, and demonstrates the frightening effect corrupt politics can have on our everyday lives. A tense, and faithful look at one of Poland's darkest moments in recent history. (PFFA)

Directed by Antoni Krauze, Poland, 2011, 100 min.

Trailer        

Showtime:
7 pm

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THE BOXER
(BOKSER)

Loosely based on the life story of Polish kick boxer turned professional boxer Przemyslaw Saleta, the film follows him from his rise to prominence, to the turning point in his life when he was forced to give up a kidney to save his daughter's life. Creatively told by director Tomasz Blachnicki, Bokser begins with Saleta's operation and looks backwards at his strange career. After winning several fights, Saleta gets signed by a scheming manager who takes him to the top, but at the cost of his marriage and family. When his daughter becomes ill, Saleta has to reflect on his life, and see what the price of ambition has meant for him as a man. A charming yet excitingly paced melodrama that entertains throughout. (PFFA)

Directed by Tomasz Blachnicki, Poland/U.S.A., 2011, 91 min.

Showtime:
9:30 pm

Sunday, Nov. 6

IN THE NAME OF THE DEVIL
(W IMIENIU DIABŁA)

The story is based on a mutiny by the Bethany nuns in Kazimierz, who refused to implement a Vatican decision to change their leader. This behavior led to further investigations of the convent and disturbing changes within the rules that the nuns practiced. In the Name of the Devil follows Anna, a young girl who became a nun to heal her emotional wounds. The strict Mother Superior successfully protects the women from the dangers of the outside world until a charismatic priest appears to help her head the monastery and claims that God can be experienced carnally. The new forms of faith practiced are scaring and confusing for the young nun. (Polish Film Institute)

Directed by Barbara Sass, Poland, 2010, 112 min.

Showtime:
3 pm

---

1920. THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT BATTLE
(aka 1920. THE BATTLE OF WARSAW; 1920 BITWA WARSZAWSKA)

Warsaw, 1920. Young Ola is a talented actress in a revue theatre and fiancé of Jan, a left leaning poet and flamboyant cavalryman. After being summoned to leave for the front to defend the homeland from the Red Army, Jan immediately proposes to Ola and decides to marry her immediately. The marriage in Saint Anna's Church is given by a young priest Ignacy Skorupka. The powerful Red Army marches to conquer the continent. During the fighting, Jan is accused of communist sympathies and Bolshevik agitation. He is sentenced to death by martial court. Meanwhile, Ola is molested in the theatre by her ardent admirer Captain of military police Kostrzewa. Ola enters the Auxiliary Women Legion to serve as a nurse and defender of Warsaw. The girl still believes in finding her husband who vanished into the blue, supposedly killed. (PFFA)

Directed by Jerzy Hoffman, Poland, 2011, 110 min.

Trailer     Director interview     Variety     TimeOut Chicago        

Showtime:
5:15 pm

---

JOANNA

Joanna is a WWII story about quiet and tragic heroism. It tells the story of Joanna Kurska, a hard working waitress just trying to get by in German occupied Warsaw. One day after a Nazi raid at work, she finds a young Jewish girl separated from her family. Forced by her conscience, she decides to hide the girl and look for her family. A bond blossoms between the two, and Joanna suddenly finds a purpose in her life that she never expected. Director Feliks Falk presents a tightly wound, suspenseful film that weighs the costs and dangers of maintaining one's sense of decency in a world where none seems to exist. Urszula Grabowska is breathtaking as Joanna in a performance that subtly reveals her emotional havoc hidden within. (PFFA)

Directed by Feliks Falk, Poland, 2010, 105 min.

Trailer (in Polish)     FIPRESCI        

Showtime:
7:30 pm

Monday, Nov. 7

THE CHRISTENING
(CHRZEST)

Just as in his debut, director Marcin Wrona returns to a narrative about a man that has to mature and take responsibility for the danger of his life. The main protagonist of the film, Michal, a criminal in the past, lives the decent life of a successful businessman, even having a family. Nevertheless, his former acquaintances from the underworld keep trying to kill him. Wrona’s account features the story in a reportage style intentionally using the unsteady hand camera. Apart from the theme of organized crime in Poland, the film mostly evokes a recent Italian film covering a similar topic Gomorrah (2008). Rather than violent scenes, the film focuses on the relationship between the main figures, mainly between Michal and his ex-friend from the underworld, Janek. (Prague Intl Film Fest)

Directed by Marcin Wrona, Poland, 2010, 86 min.

Official site     Trailer     Director interview     Isola Cinema        

Showtime:
7 pm

---

THREE MINUTES. 21:37
(TRZY MINUTY. 21:37)

Three minutes. 21:37 looks at Poles joined by faith a week after the death of the Pope, when millions of lights were turned off across the country as a manifest of unanimous grief. The plot covers four parallel stories of people who will unconsciously impact each other by their behaviour and actions. (Gdynia Polish Film Fest)

Directed by Maciej Ślesicki, Poland, 2010, 128 min.

Official site     Trailer (in Polish)        

Showtime:
9 pm

Tuesday, Nov. 8

MY OWN POLE
(MÓJ BIEGUN)

The youngest conqueror of the Earth's Poles - Johnny Mela witnessed his younger brother's death, and a few years later had his arm amputated in result of a severe electric shock. A broken family with a toxic father left the boy with no hope for a brighter future. It all changes when the father-son relationship leads to what first seemed impossible: an amazing physical achievement by a disabled person - reaching the Pole. (Film Orbit)

Directed by Marcin Głowacki, Poland, 2011, 93 min.

Showtime:
7 pm

---

DANCE MARATHON
(MARATON TAŃCA)

In provincial Polish town in Lower Silesia, the outdoor event brings the excitement amongst the town's community. The dance contest and the spectacular price of 50 thousand zl attract the town residents and help revealing their inner desires and dreams. Everyone has an important reason to be there; some are tempted to see the superstar Dzessika, others dream of winning the Big Prize. Even Father Damian who dances with Sister Cesaria... So, who will be the lucky winner of the marathon, and whose dreams will come true? Could it be that two strangers and weirdoes who appear in town, Szymus and Sylwus are capable of doing miracles? (PFFA)

Directed by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz, Poland, 2010, 100 min.

Trailer (in Polish)        

Showtime:
9 pm

Wednesday, Nov. 9

Double Feature:

LOOK AT ME
(POPATRZ NA MNIE)

Maciej Stuhr returns to the screen in this short thriller from debut director Katarzyna Jungowska. Three seemingly unrelated stories in intertwine as the movie progresses, revealing a climax that is both surprising and dramatic. Beautifully shot and well paced, Jungowska reveals her talents at handling suspense and story development on screen. At only thirty minutes, Look at Me is able to present characters in a world that is both entertaining and emotional. (PFFA)

Directed by Katarzyna Jungowska, Poland, 2011, 30 min.

Trailer        


with:

HENIEK

Inspired by true events, Heniek is a comedy about greed, hypocrisy and sweet, sweet revenge. Beata, Jacek and Maciek are co-workers at a car dealership in Krakow. One day on a regular workday, a police inspector walks in announcing that their colleague, Heniek, is being accused of using a false identity and participating in a gang robbery. Everyone is shocked, Heniek has never been a favorite around the dealership but there's never been any problems from him. It's also hard for them to believe that such "total loser" could be involved in any type of illegal activity. The three friends begin their own investigation by following a trail of clues left by Heniek. Will they find that he is in fact the mysterious thief the police accuse him of being? (PFFA)

Directed by Eliza Kowalewska & Grzegorz Madej; Poland, 2010, 71 min.

Official site     Film clip (in Polish)        

Showtime:
7 pm

---

FLYING PIGS
(SKRZYDLATE ŚWINIE)

Flying Pigs is a story of four characters who center their lives around supporting the local soccer club. When the team ceases to exists, their world is turned upside down. Oskar, a former hooligan and a strong leader in the circle of the local soccer fans, is forced to change from sweats into a suit and get a job with the owner of another club. His new post tests his loyalties, forces him to develop another outlook on life and grow up. Meanwhile he finds himself in the middle of a love triangle with his brother and his girlfriend. Kazejak presents a rough and energetic vision of a community where brutality and raw emotions are mixing with cold business and calculation. (Gdynia Polish Film Fest)

Directed by Anna Kazejak, Poland, 2010, 99 min.

Trailer (in Polish)        

Showtime:
9 pm

Thursday, Nov. 10

THE WINNER
(WYGRANY)

Oliver (Pawel Szajda), a young American of Polish descent from Chicago, is one of the world's most talented pianists. However, due to a backstage politics he is losing an important piano competition. His wife is leaving him. Totally depressed, he is breaking off his European tournee and must repay the tour organizers huge amount of money. On his journey, he meets Frank (Janusz Gajos), a flamboyant character, retired math teacher, a passionate player at the horse races. The old man dreams of returning to his native America as "somebody," but can only do so after wining a momentous prize. From then on, the two friends endeavor to succeed. They discover true friendship. Together they fulfill Frank's dream of winning at the horse races, which in turn allows Oliver to buy back his personal freedom. He is also able to open up to a new love... (PFFA)

Directed by Wiesław Saniewski, Poland/U.S.A., 2011, 110 min.

Trailer (in Polish)        

Showtime:
7 pm

---

SUICIDE ROOM
(SALA SAMOBÓJCÓW)

Suicide Room is a painful, but honest look at the gap between parents and their children, the inability for one generation to understand another. In it we meet Dominik, a smart and gentle high schooler, who's life on paper seems perfect. His father, a high ranking politician, and his mother, a wealthy clothing designer, give him everything they can to ensure his success. But when a deeply personal revelation about him comes out, Dominik shuts himself off from the world in hopes of avoiding the constant bullying he suffers from his former friends and peers. His only solace comes in the form of an internet chat room, the suicide room, where other self defined "rejects," and their leader Sylvia - a beautiful and mysterious agoraphobic - meet to talk about suicide. Locking himself in a room for days on end, his parents suddenly find they know nothing about him. Interestingly, blending the computer generated visuals of the digital world Dominik enters, with the real one he lives in, director Jan Komasa makes a film that shows the power of loneliness within the modern world and family. (PFFA)

Directed by Jan Komasa, Poland, 2011, 112 min.

Trailer        

Showtime:
9 pm

---

Tickets: