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Showing posts from 2020

Movies to Watch: Late Summer Nostalgia Virtual Film Festival

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  Because of the pandemic, our Polish movie screenings are not possible at this time. So instead, for every month we miss, here is a movie suggestion to watch at home. "The Polish Film Festival Miami, in partnership with the Embassy of Poland in Washington, D.C., invites you on a journey through Poland in “Late Summer Nostalgia.” We will present four films that will introduce you to the less-often tread nooks and crannies of the Polish imagination."   https://www.pffmiami.com/ 8/27 - 9/2   Goodbye, Till Tomorrow (1960) , Dir. Janusz Morgenstern 8/27 - 9/9   Double Trouble (2017) , Dir. Marta Karwowska 9/03 - 9/9   Papusza (2013) , Dir. Joanna Kos-Krauze & Krzysztof Krauze 9/10 - 9/16   Strawberry Wine (2007) , Dir. Dariusz Jabłoński  

Movies to Watch: Comedy vs Communism Virtual Film Festival June 20-27

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"Comedy vs. Communism: A Retrospective of Polish Cult Comedies from Communist Times celebrates film as a tool of resistance to totalitarian tyranny and political satire as a means of beginning the process of reestablishing political liberty. Please join us in watching these films and then meet with Dr. Anna Draniewicz, Research Fellow in VOC’s Polish Studies program for a Q&A during which she will answer the inevitable questions arising from the films and their portrayal of the surreal life in communist Poland." ( https://www.victimsofcommunism.org/events/comedy-vs-communism?fbclid=IwAR2nbL-N1UuxZURCtG3kZLPdTmpHS7t4Kyu7HVu2_AvutFJI9Ij8QVTynT8 )

Short Movie to Watch: FANATYK by Michal Tylka Drama/Comedy (2017) 33 minutes

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Because of the pandemic, our Polish movie screenings are not possible at this time. So instead, for every month we miss, here is a movie suggestion to watch at home. Fanatic (available on Netflix) Based on famous copy-paste text by Malcolm XD, it is a story about addiction, fanaticism, and obsession. One ordinary family, so many problems. Cast: Piotr Cyrwus, Anna Radwan, Marian Dziedziel, Mikolaj Kubacki, Lukasz Szczepanowski Trailer (in Polish):

Movie to Watch: UCIECZKA Z KINA WOLNOŚĆ by Wojciech Marczewski (1990) Comedy/Drama/Fantasy 92 minutes

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Because of the pandemic our Polish movie screenings are no longer possible. So instead, for every month we miss, a movie suggestion to watch from home. This is episode 4 of the series, our June replacement. Ucieczka z kina Wolność (Escape from the Liberty Cinema), available on Netflix and Amazon Prime This absurdist black comedy, a winner of several Polish Film Festival awards, follows the state censor, played by Janusz Gajos, and his daily life of altering press statements or modifying film dialogues. He appreciates the cat-and-mouse game of trying to suppress anything forbidden in the face of steady efforts to sneak something past him. To him, "Censorship is necessary. Censorship is an art. A good censor should be an artist." However, one day at the Liberty Cinema, a commercial movie theater near his offices, the characters on the movie screen start speaking out of character and refuse to speak the lines written for them. They are even joined by Tom Baxter, a

Series to watch: ROJST by Jan Holoubek (2018) Drama/Crime (5 Episodes)

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Because of the pandemic, our Polish movie screenings are not possible at this time. So instead, for every month we miss, here is a movie suggestion to watch at home. This is episode three of the series (May replacement). The Mire (available on Netflix) Poland, early 80's, the middle of a small, forgotten town. In the local forest a young prostitute and a communist activist are brutally murdered. At the same time a couple of teenagers commit a suicide. Two journalists of a local newspaper are investigating the crimes. The more they dig around the more they find themselves in a "mire" which is extremely hard to get out of. In addition to a great plot, the music in this series is phenomenal! Cast: Andrzej Seweryn, Dawid Ogrodnik, Piotr Fronczewski, Magdalena Walach i Zofia Wichlacz. Trailer (in Polish):

Movie to Watch: REMEMBRANCE by Anna Justice (2011) War/Drama 105 minutes

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Because of the pandemic our Polish movie screenings are no longer possible. So instead, for every month we miss, a movie suggestion to watch from home. This is episode two of the series (our April replacement).    Recommendation by Marzena Szlaga Remembrance (available on Amazon Prime) "Remembrance” is a German-Polish co-production (Polish title: Zagubiony Czas ). The film is based on a true story of Jerzy Bielecki and Cyla Cybulska. Young Polish resistance officer, Tomasz Limanowski, is captured and sent to Auschwitz II (in that role- charismatic Mateusz Damięcki) where he falls in love with a German-Jewish girl, Hanna Silberstein, a prisoner of the women slave labor camp. They manage to escape the Nazi camp but unforeseen coincidence and betrayal of Tomasz's family member prevents their unification. They meet again 30 years later. This is a story of young unfulfilled love, fight for freedom, suffering and perseverance, and also about the struggle of life in

Movie to Watch: ESSENTIAL KILLING by Skolimowski (2010) War/Thriller 83 minutes

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Because of the pandemic our Polish movie screenings are no longer possible. So instead, for every month we miss, a movie suggestion to watch from home. This is episode one of the series our March replacement). Essential Killing (available on Amazon Prime) Skolimowski at his best: frigid winter landscape, a prisoner on the run. And you, the viewer, who could clearly see from the get-go: there is no chance for survival. A "pure, elemental story," with a contemporary setting. If a trailer makes you think it is a political tale, don't quite believe it. As Roger Ebert put it: "Despite the contemporary setting, "Essential Killing" makes little point of politics. Yes, the man is Taliban and yes, he's tortured, but there are no speeches and precious little dialogue by anyone, let alone the Gallo character. It's  pure action, and then you're free to find your own parallels." If you are interested to read more before watching, this is probabl

Friday, Sep 18 at 7:30: IKAR by Maciej Pieprzyca (2019) Drama 110 minutes

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Icarus. The legend of Mietek Kosz, Polish with English subtitles   Inspired by true events, a story of a blind piano genius who died in tragic circumstances and whose life we see through select episodes depicting the most influential moments in his life and career. As a child, Mietek loses his sight and his mother places him in the care of the nuns in Laski. This is where Mietek discovers that music may be his way of seeing the world again. Mietek goes on to become a brilliant classical and jazz pianist known both in Poland and abroad. The film won 6 awards at Gdynia Film Festival in 2019, for the best feature film (Silver Lions), actor, cinematography, costume design, make-up, and score, and is nominated in several categories in 2020  Polish Film Academy Awards Orły (Eagles).                                                                                                              (description based on https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9121954/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl ) Ca

Spring and Summer Movie Cancellations

Due to the recommendations from public health agencies to avoid bringing groups of people together in close proximity for events and gatherings, we are cancelling our March showing. Update: due to Gov. Inslee's stay-at-home order, we are cancelling our April movie screening. Update: Polish Home is closed for now. We hope to see everyone in September. Stay safe!

Friday, February 21 at 7:30: TESTOSTERON by Saramonowicz & Konecki (2007) Comedy 119 minutes

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Testosterone, Polish with English subtitles Would a wedding without a bride work? But of course. Provided you have the best Polish male actors and an excellent screenplay. As a waiter finishes setting the tables for the wedding party, the limousine arrives. Except instead of the newlyweds, three angry men jump out, dragging another one along. Soon they are joined by the groom. The wedding party after the wedding that didn’t take place because the bride escaped from the altar turns into a series of fights, toasts, squabbles, discussions, surprising twists and turns. What do women really want? What do men really want? And what is love? ( https://naekranie.pl/filmy/testosteron) Cast: Piotr Adamczyk, Borys Szyc, Maciej Stuhr, Krzysztof Stelmaszyk, Cezary Kosiński, Tomasz Karolak, Tomasz Kot Trailer (in Polish):

Polish Movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Since OKO meets only once a month, here is a list of movies in Polish, with English subtitles, available on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Documentaries are not included. If you are into that genre, there is a ton available! Enjoy!