Polish Film Festival Los Angeles has been started on October 7 and will run until October 16. 2014 marks the 15th anniversary of this successful film festival that presents the best of Polish cinema in Hollywood every year. Here is the complete program of the festival for October 14 and 15:
Laemmle’s NoHo7 Theatre, 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 (310-478-3836):
Tuesday October 14, 2014 (in person: Dawid Ogrodnik)
7:00 p.m. YOU ARE GOD (Jestes Bogiem) by Leszek Dawid (110 min.) The promising documentary by Leszek Dawid tells the story of Paktofonika, one of Poland’s pioneer hip-hop collectives. In the process he merges biography with sociological observation to create an unique look at the struggle for success in a troubled environment. He knew about the traps that were hidden in the story of the famous musicians, the tragic death of the band-leader, the wild capitalism of the nineties, the Silesian housing projects and the lost young generation. In YOU ARE GOD he successfully avoids moralizing or overt praise and manages a fairly objective portrait of the group and its members. Thanks to this directorial discipline and artistic maturity the film is turning out to be one of the best movies made in Poland in the past few years.
9:00 p.m. WALESA. MAN OF HOPE (Walesa. Czlowiek z nadziei) by Andrzej Wajda (110 min.) The depiction of the life of Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Poland’s Solidarity movement, Lech Walesa, as events in the 1970s lead to a peaceful revolution. This historical perspective, combined with a dynamic story of daily life in the Polish People’s Republic, should help comprehend the phenomenon of those transformations. The film is mainly addressed to young people, at the same time constituting a reminder of an outstanding filmmaker. Sometimes you must fight for freedom, sometimes you must defend it, there are, however, no circumstances which could excuse you from contemplating our freedom.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 (in person: Julia Kijowska)
7:00 p.m. THE MIGHTY ANGEL (Pod Mocnym Aniolem) by Wojciech Smarzowski (105 min.) Jerzy is a writer and a chronic alcoholic. We meet him at the point when he believes that he can beat his addiction. Him and her in bed. Somebody says “I love you”. It seems that there is a reason and someone to live for… But when once she’s gone and he’s alone in a taxi, Jerzy can’t stop himself any longer. He has a quick one at THE MIGHTY ANGEL and then goes to an all-night shop and starts drinking heavily. And then foam, convulsions, vomiting. Jerzy ends up in intensive care. We meet the hospital staff and other alcoholics in the isolated ward. Part of the treatment is reading previously written stories from the times when the patients were drinking. There’s an array of characters here: a lorry driver, a director, a pharmacist, some dossiers too, a student and a policeman… there are no exceptions because anyone can be trapped in addiction. There are many amusing and authentic life stories (who has never laughed at a drunkard?) but there are also some terrifying ones…
9:00 p.m. LOVING (Milosc) by Slawomir Fabicki (105 min.) Life of Tom and Mary seems spotless. Happily married young couple with promising careers, awaiting their firstborn in their new apartment. When Mary calls a day off work, her superior, and city’s mayor shows up at her door with the basket of purple roses… and everything is blown apart. Should partners reveal every truth even the potentially harmful one? Will love overcome the fear of being hurt and deceived? What grows out of the seed doubt on the ground of mature, healthy and loving relationship? Inspired by a true political and social affair, the film is a study of the relationship disintegration; it’s a story about trust and hope; about love that hurts.
Laemmle’s Royal Theatre, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West Los Angeles, CA 90025 (310-478-3836)
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 (in person: Dawid Ogrodnik)
7:00 p.m. Shorts: THE KISS (Pocalunek) by Filip Geldon ( 22 min.)
MOTHER EARTH (Matka ziemia) by Piotr Zlotorowicz (30 min.)
THE BARTENDER (Barman) by Piotr Budzowski (12 min.)
SUCH A LANDSCAPE (Taki Pejzaz) by Jagoda Szelc (23 min.)
9:00 p.m. LIFE FEELS GOOD (Chce sie zyc) by Maciej Pieprzyca (107 min.)
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 (in person: Dawid Ogrodnik)
7:00 p.m. THE WORD (Obietnica) by Anna Kazejak (97 min.)
9:00 p.m. YOU ARE GOD (Jestes Bogiem) by Leszek Dawid (110 min.)
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
The Armer Theater, Manzanita Hall
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8317
CSUN Cinematheque
Friday, October 10, 2014
7:00 p.m. ONE WAY TICKET TO THE MOON (Bilet na ksiezyc) by Jacek Bromski (120 min.)
Q&A with Jacek Bromski, Ludek Drizhal, Spenser Gibb, Kasia Smiechowicz, Daniel McVicar; Moderator – Tim Halloran
Free admission.
Informatio: www.polishfilmLA.org , 818/982-8827
Program subject to change without prior notice