A Hard-Core Engaged Film
An amusing story about the inefficient distribution of publicity posters and its consequences for cultural life. The town is empty and people stay at home because they do not know what films are on and where.
Polish Shorts 3: Horror and Parody
70 minutes
From clever satires to metaphorical horror tales, these shorts offer a rollercoaster ride through the twisted corridors of imagination.
With ground-breaking filmmakers such as Walerian Borowczyck, Jan Lenica, Marek Skrobecki and Julian Antonisz, Poland is known for its subversive satires full of dark humour. Pushing the boundaries of parody and horror, this programme offers a rollercoaster ride through the twisted corridors of imagination, where suprises are around every corner. From clever satires to metaphorical warnings and sex positive tales, these Polish shorts are a testament to the creative ingenuity of their makers.
This program was curated by Ewa Borysewicz and Katarzyna Surmacz.
This program screened as part of Kaboom Animation Festival 2024
Showing in this program
Banquet
House
It was House that finished collaboration between Walerian Borowczyk and Jan Lenica. Simulta-neously, the film opened a door to an international career. House was inspired by the French avant-garde tradition of the 1920s. Different scenes, varied stylistically and thematically, take pla-ce inside the secession tenement house: an animate wig drinking milk, two men fighting, and a woman kissing a dummy’s head…
Walerian Borowczyk, born in 1923, died in 2006 – an author of posters, scriptwriter, director of the animation, and feature films. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. He de-signed posters and satirical cartoons at the beginning of his career. He started the Polish School of Animation in the 1960s together with J. Lenica. Borowczyk emigrated to France in 1959 where he stayed and was recognized as an author of many animated films. Afterward, he started making artistic erotic films.
Jan Lenica, born in 1928, died in 2001 – the son of Alfred Lenica. He was a painter, author of po-sters, scriptwriter, and director of animated films. He started his career in animation together with Walerian Borowczyk, when they initiated the Polish School of Animation. After the end of their collaboration, Lenica emigrated to France where he continued his career in animation and teaching.
Ichthys
It is a puppet animation linked with an additional 3D computer technique. Ichthys is a metaphori-cal parable about human’s dreams, expectations, and grit. A young man comes to the restaurant in the sacred-like building. A waiter with a cherub-like face takes an order and goes away. The client is waiting patiently. Time is passing. When the waiter shows up again, the man cannot en-joy a meal evermore.
Marek Skrobecki, born in 1951. Graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and the film school in Łódź. He is a scriptwriter and director of animated films, including puppet animation mainly. He is the laureate of many international festivals. He collaborates with many other artists as for in-stance with Suzie Templeton on the Oscar winner Peter and the Wolf.
Pussy
A young girl spends the evening alone at home. She decides to have some sweet solo pleasure session, but not everything goes according to plan. A cute animated short about masturbation.
Shivering Trunks
Pafnucy – furry butterfingers with a latex trunk – is dissatisfied with his face. He looks at the photos of Kalasanty with envy thinking that Kalasanty is a real role model, vibrant with health and cheerfulness. At the same time lonely Kalasanty experiences similar dilemmas... A simple story exploding with amazing sense of humour and full of wisdom, a story about the destructive power of negative emotions where the narration based on the director’s monologue.
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The Stubs – Rudy’s Blue Boogie
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To Thy Heart
He was so handsome, with his jet-black hair, standing by the swing. When he smiled, eyes would stand on end. It was schizophrenic - he was so messed up that she would do whatever he said. She wanted to listen to his sweet-talking, wanted him to talk until the moon was up. Then she stopped pinning her hopes on him. She couldn't let him off so easily for his betrayal. Ewa Borysewicz's animation is a secular litany and a story of affection ending in bitter disappointment, echoing through a tower block estate.
Ewa Borysewicz, born in 1985. A graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and the Film School of the University of Silesia in Katowice. Her graduation animated film Who Would Have Thought? (2009) has been acclaimed both by audience and the critics and received awards at important festivals in Poland and abroad. Her next animation To Thy Heart (2013) was nominated, among others: to the Golden Bear at the Berlinale International Film Festival 2014. In the early 2012 she took part in an animation artist in residence programme in Tokyo.
