“The Fruits of the Black Soil”
Film
Mirosław Dembiński’s glorious film, “The Fruits of the Black Soil”,
deservedly found itself among the favourites for the main prize. It is not
just a "portrayal of a dilapidated Silesia”, but also a powerful piece of
cinema. Hence, the supreme photographic expressionism, clean editing,
awareness of the film’s context and the title instantaneously associates it
with Kazimierz Kutz’s unforgettable film.
„The Way of Life”
Gazeta Wyborcza
“The Way of Life” is a dramatic account of the interviews which director Mariusz Front carried out with young Poles leaving for Bosnia and Croatia. It won a prize for ‘its moral and artistic prowess revealing the irrational desire for killing at war’.
„The
Way of Life”
Głos Poranny
Mariusz Front won the White Cobra Grand Prix with his film “The Way of Life”. The laureate showed in his work the Balkan conflict in the former Yugoslavia from the viewpoint of young Poles, who, of their own accord, went to fight in Bosnia and Croatia, blinded by one thing – the desire to test themselves at war.
„A Trace”
Gazeta Wyborcza
A film documenting
the director and cameraman, Stanisław Latałło, who, following his memorable
role in Zanussi’s “Illumination”, became a grand cult figure. He played the
role of a man who was searching for his limits, one of his means of
self-discovery was mountaineering. His life wrote the film a tragic ending –
Latałło died on a trip to the Himalayas. The author of “A Trace”, his son,
was at that point six years old… There is no room for cheap sentimentalism,
nor the smallest attempt at emotional blackmail – it’s authentic. A personal
need motivated by the desire to reveal the truth about an extraordinary man.
“Dad from America”
Gazeta
Wyborcza
This film is deeply self-ridiculing and, because of this, very bitter. In fact it does not speak about an egotistic father from America, but about the failed expectations of the son from Poland. About his loneliness and longings; feelings that, with the course of time, fade like old photographs printed on poor paper. The making of this film must have been a form of auto-therapy for the director, a way of dealing with his own childhood.
„The Future of an Illusion”
Gazeta Wyborcza
Franco de Pena’s film appears to be about nothing, but is in fact about everything. This pastel film could be read as a metaphorical picture of gentle hell, in which one is forever waiting for something. It is a very humane world, filmed with compassion.
„The Future of an Illusion”
http://miasta.gazeta.pl/lublin/
This film is a poetic portrait of the inhabitants of Havana. At New Year the seven heroes yearn for something that can change their lives. Bordering on documentary and feature film “The Future of an Illusion” breaks into Latin magic-realism. This is not just another film about Cuba, this is a film about what lies behind humanity.
„Ganek”
Trento
It is a film, whose rhythm and musical score compliments its pictures,
always allows us to follow the endless climbing adventure. Apart from this,
it reveals the underlying relationship between an Alpinist and his awaiting
family.
“Icarus”
Paragliding Discussion Group
The film displays the pleasure of flying, tells about great adventures, satisfaction in life, about flying to fulfil your dreams and not for the number of kilometres flown. People – don’t be afraid to show your emotions during the ride.
I think it’s better to ask someone who is not associated with flying what he thinks about this film. I did that and to my surprise my friend got into flying. He claims that “Icarus” has ‘POWER’.
„The Diary of a Death Foretold”
Gazeta
Wyborcza
Tomasz Beksiński - music journalist, film dialogue translator (Bond and
Monty Python, amongst others), a horror fanatic – was no ordinary guy. Not
to everyone’s taste, he is a cult figure. Following his death his devotees
discuss, grieve for him on the Internet. And it is this that Daniel Światły
attempts to recount in his film, “The Diary of a Death Foretold”.
„Żuławski by Żuławski”
Gazeta Wyborcza
This biographic account brings to light the various facets of the artist’s personality and does not cover up his contradictory nature. One advantage of this is that it does not demonize, but rather humanizes its subject. Regardless of whether or not you like Żuławski’s films, it is worth watching for the various explanations that unravel the violence and brutality of his films. (...) The film’s director decorates Żuławski’s accounts with extracts from his films, appropriately illustrating his loopy private and artistic life.
„It’s Necessary to Live”
Gazeta Wyborcza
Over half a year the documentary producer filmed the everyday life of Markot – Rehabilitation Centre for the Homeless. He explores the complicated life stories of people cared about by Marek Kotański – a pool of several hundred people who lost themselves in their lives or whom fate rendered homeless. (...) Tales about living castaways and them crafting the opportunity to return to a normal life are crippling, but also give hope.
“Shared Flight”
Paragliding Discussion Group
An excellent film about a man and how he can love and how strong the power of passion is… But above all that disability is a matter of mind over matter and Jędrzej is not disabled.
“Shared Flight”
Integracja
“Shared Flight” is a warm and moving film that openly deals with disability. An additional bonus is the amazing picture from air and the music. All of this makes this film unforgettable.
„Losers and Winners”
Kino
Mirosław Dembiński won the White Cobra Grand Prix with his film “Losers and Winners”, filmed with great élan, portraying the football World Cup for the Homeless. We get to know intimately the heroes of several international teams selected to participate in the event.
„Losers and Winners”
Viewer’s opinion from the Internet
Since yesterday I haven’t been able to stop my admiration from flowing. Absolutely unreal. It just happened!!! Documentary and what’s more, it’s warm, optimistic, powerful and full of hope. The film really impressed me (…) Respect for this magical and beautiful film.
„Grandpa”
Paragliding Discussion Group
A portrayal of a man overwhelmed by passion, who was fighting against his weaknesses where others more physically capable would have given up
This is not a film
about gliding, but about a man’s life whose passion is gliding. Big respect
for people like Grandpa.
In my eyes he is like a Sisyphus who managed to push his stone on top of the
mountain. And he managed to do it with a smile.
Very simple in its structure the report turned out to be sophisticated and interesting, multi-faceted in its exploratory fashion and also a deeply moving documentary of what happened, whose historical significance cannot be overestimated. Mirosław Dembiński didn’t just give his own take on the historical fall but a passionate film plot, which unfolds along to recognizable Polish and Ukrainian beats, and culminates in two hundred thousand gathering in Independence Square in Kiev.
„Dwarfs Go to Ukraine”
Rzeczpospolita
“An instrumental by a camera quartet”
Family gatherings, street demonstrations, the drama of election night and common scenes filmed by four cameras. Mirosław Dembiński presents an emotional one and a half-hour long documentary thrown together from 78 hours of footage.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
Lipzig
With the film's
vehement images of demonstrations and diverse civil actions by the young
Belarusian generation, the film-maker teaches all of us a lesson. And the
viewer witnesses more or less bewildered the excesses of a real existing
dictatorship in the heart of Europe. The film is a plea, an outcry, and - at
the same time - a cool-headed analysis of the daily turmoil of political
struggle. Mirosław Dembiński succeeded in aligning cinematic means of the
reportage with those of narrating a political documentary film in a way that
deeply touches the viewer.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
watch doc’s
Shocking but at the same time excellent, Dembiński’s documentary shows how, faced with disadvantage and repression, young people act. “A Lesson of Belarusian” is worth seeing. I recommend it to everyone, not just people who remember how our country was repressed, but all young people who want to know more about what was for our grandparents the freedom of the motherland.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
gazeta.pl
Even before the Polish Premiere of “A Lesson of Belarusian” it was prize winning in Germany, but in Lukashenka’s country it begins to take on a life of its own distributed via home video recorders. The film is about Franak, who explains to his friend that she can change the world, about his friends who are learning Belarusian, even though it is forbidden to learn Belarusian in Belarus and also about the inhabitants of Minsk who, under onslaught from baton-wielding police on election night, scream for “liberty”.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
watch
doc’s
It’s in a good manner to decide whether it is worth seeing this film or not. I’ll honestly tell you: it’s at the top of your reading list.
It’s not the least bit surprising that a flawless and energetic narration and composition from a dramatic stance appeals to one’s compassion and solidarity. “A Lesson of Belarusian”, honestly moving, especially at the end, quickly captured the hearts of viewers and critics, winning last year, just after it was put together, many prizes and critical acclaim.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
gazeta.pl
Dembiński presents conspired plots, demonstrations, the brutal pacification of civil protest from the core, from the viewpoint of young oppositionists resulting in a really emotional portrayal of the political situation in Belarus.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
www.odkryjmybialorus.blox.pl
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
www.kinomaniaki.pl
This is currently one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. Excellent
scriptwriting, brilliant music and amazing power of revolutionaries’ slogans
“freedom, equality, fraternity” emanating from the screen makes our
cinematography something to be proud of when compared to other European
nations. Bravo!”
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
www.merkuriusz.id.uw.edu.pl
This film is amazing. The best thing is that such young people are so aware of themselves and their nationality. They are ready to pay the price for defending what they believe in. The film is definitely worth recommending and everyone should go and see it.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
www.ceo.org.pl
“A Lesson of Belarusian” at Wojkowice High School (students’ opinions)
The film was very moving. I honestly feel sorry for Belarusians. I would really like to help them. I think that after watching this, what’s happening over the garden fence, we appreciate how important freedom is.
After watching this film I was in shock. This is the 21st century and too little is said of this problem in Europe and Poland, which is a neighbor of Belarus. And it’s not as if our history is any different.
„Music partisans”
interwiev with Ally Derks – directorof IDFA festival
(…)This year a lot of documentaries are saying, "Come on, we have a different story to tell from what you see on the news." The media is fragmented through different channels and broadcasters. There's so-called objectivity for ten minutes. That's how we form our opinion. Now filmmakers want the barricade. They want activism. Art as a weapon. (…) We're showing “Music Partisans”, set in Minsk's Kalinovski Square, about the bands playing music and political protests. It's by Mirosław Dembiński, who did “A Lesson of Belarusian”. I call him the Michael Moore of Belarus.
„Music partisans”
www.kulturaonline.pl
The director who has been making films about our Eastern neighbours over the last few years (“Dwarfs go to Ukraine”, amongst others) has managed to avoid a stereotype pattern. “Music Partisans” is not an ordinary documentary about protests in Belarus filled with archives of opposition demonstrators. This film blows you away. This is an energetic manifest of democracy, freedom of thought and speech.
„Music partisans”
www.kulturaonline.pl
“Music Partisans” is cinema which makes you think, which moves you and keeps
you on the edge of your seat. Dembiński shows us modern partisans, young
people who are fighting for important reasons. They are willing to make huge
sacrifices, even though their goal seems to be unreachable.
„Ada Gallery”
www.polskieradio.pl/zagranica
The Polish production of "Ada Gallery" gives a perfect insight into what is going on in Belarus and indeed a production that could not have been made in Belarus. It was also clearly said by its director during the award giving ceremony that the film could have been produced just with the support of the Polish film studio and the Polish film makers.
“Pustelniks in the mountains”
ZAKOPANE – the jury’s verdict
The film’s heroes, who are experts in alpinism, are not introduced in a heroic manner, but in a way that emphasizes their humanity stemming from their everyday problems and fears. Two parallel stories explore the relationship between father and sons, in which emotions play a special role between people – more important than an active feat.
“Pustelniks in the mountains”
www.goryonline.com
The film is witty and the whole life of “Pustelniks in the Mountains” is shown from a great distance, that mountains are only a setting for everyday conversations, situations, etc. The form is atypical, which makes it original and fresh. Personally, I remember the part when the boys can’t believe that they bought rice which should be boiled for 40-45 minutes or when they are trying find out whether it was a bear that broke the glass in the car. A nice film – I recommend it.
“King Hugo and his Damsel”
www.gazeta.pl
This film tells the real story about the months one family from the slums spends waiting for a flat promised by the regime. (…) De Pena underlined that he didn’t want to make a pamphlet about those in power nor the opposition; he only wanted to comment on Venezuelan reality, a reality in which, according to the director, it would seem, the majority doesn’t believe in socialism a la Chavez, but just wants food, a roof above their heads and security.