Aleksandra Justa
- 2006
First-time filmmaker Adam Guzinski writes and directs this gentle yet anguished tale of a successful screenwriter battling a debilitating case of writer's block. In order to clear his mind, prolific scribe Jerzy moves his family away from the city and into the comparative peace of the countryside. Unfortunately the change of scenery fails to stimulate the writer's creativity, and the effect of his strain soon begins to manifest itself both financially and emotionally. Though the lingering gap between Jerzy and his wife Maria continues to widen and deepen, their son Jasiek seems strangely unaffected by his parents' woes. Later, Jerzy discovers that Jasiek is in desperate need of an operation, and that they will have to travel to the city to have the delicate procedure performed. Despite the fact that Jerzy attempts to make the trip a joyful one for his son by taking the boy to a store that carries a collection of highly covetable miniature automobiles, the trip takes an unexpectedly downbeat turn when Jasiek discovers the true meaning of the trip and Jerzy sinks into a deep well of despair. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Piotr Bajor, Aleksandra Justa, (more)
- 2003
German director Hans-Christian Schmid teams up again with writing partner Michael Gutmann for the ensemble film Lichter (Distant Lights). The film takes place during a few days around the Oder River, which acts as a border between Poland and Germany. Several different interrelated stories involve young adults who smuggle cigarettes, a businessman who sells black-market mattresses, and a cab driver trying to get his daughter a communion dress. While trying to cross the river at night, Ukranian Kolya (Ivan Shvedov) is arrested while two other Ukranians (Sergei Frolov and Anna Yanovskaya) are helped by the cab driver. Lichter premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ivan Shvedov, Sergei Frolov, (more)
