Jerzy Kawalerowicz Movies
Polish filmmaker Jerzy Kawalerowicz was once considered one of his country's most talented post-WW II directors, noted for his powerful, detail-oriented imagery. Kawalerowicz was versatile and his subjects ranged from historical dramas to intense psychological studies. He made his directorial debut in 1951 after working as an assistant director. In 1955 Kawalerowicz was appointed head of the prestigious KADR production unit. He held the position again in 1972. In 1983, Kawalerowicz alienated himself from many of his peers by signing communist government-generated reports condemning all filmmakers aligned with the Solidarity Movement and promoting the destruction of production units run by long time associates Wajda and Zanussi. Kawalerowicz died in December 2007, about a month before his 86th birthday. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
One of the most expensive Polish films ever made, Jerzy Kawalerowicz directs the ancient Roman filmmaking staple Quo Vadis. This remake follows in the style of the MGM Hollywood epic directed by Mervyn Le Roy in 1951. Set in 64 A.D., the story begins with officer Marcus Vinicius (Pawel Delag) returning to Rome to relax with his uncle Petronius (Boguslaw Linda), who works for Emperor Nero (Michal Bajor). Vinicius becomes interested in Jesus when he goes to a Christian gathering in order to see his sweetheart Lygia (Magdalena Mielcarz). Emperor Nero is opposed to the Christians, which leads the way to a firey, explosive, and violent conclusion. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pawel Delag, Magdalena Mielcarz, (more)
Also known as The Inn, Austeria is set in Poland around the time of WWI. During a pogrom, a group of Jews seek refuge from the Cossacks. The fugitives hide out in a rural inn, terrified that they may be given away at any moment. As the seconds stretch into minutes and the minutes into hours, the film metamorphoses into a series of philosophical/psychological discussions in the tradition of The Lower Depths and No Exit. Austeria was the last film (to date) of Polish director Jerzy Kawalerowicz, whose previous projects have included the award-winning Joan of the Angels and Death of a President. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wojciech Pszoniak, Jan Szurmiej, (more)
- 1980
A Polish "ship of fools" makes its way from Canada to Poland in this tale of an odd mix of passengers and their hidden agendas. One of the more tension-filled relationships is between a doctor with heart problems and an old acquaintance he meets on board. It is clear that this meeting causes more angst than even a normal heart should bear, yet the doctor and his former friend keep their bone of contention well buried. Other passengers in deep psychological water include the doctor's companion masquerading as his wife, and a singer on a downhill slide. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ignacy Gogolewski
After Poland won freedom from of its long overlordship by Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, it took a further four years for its National Assembly to elect Gabriel Narutowicz as its first president. Narutowicz was a professor who until his election had been living in Switzerland. Those were chaotic times, and shortly after his election, he was assassinated by right-wing fanatics. This epic Polish film chronicles the circumstances of Narutowicz's election and assassination. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zdzislaw Mrozewski, Marek Walczewski, (more)
- 1971
- R
This curious Italian drama is the medium for bringing to light the soul-searching conversations of an erotomaniac woman and a troubled priest. The woman is desperate to have some sort of real relationship with someone. She decides the priest is an appropriate person. He, in turn, needs to confide his philosophical and spiritual questionings to someone and unburden himself of his own doubt about his moral fitness to fulfill his role. Each represents an adequate temptation for the other. This film boasts one of the better musical scores by Ennio Morricone. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In this historical drama, Pharoah Ramses XIII (George Zelnik, aka Jerzy Zelnik) defies tradition when his father dies by assuming command of the military, a post usually occupied by priests. His defiance leads to a battle between those loyal to Ramses XIII and the power structure of the priests. The priests try to fool the people by capitalizing on a solar eclipse, but Ramses XIII realizes the event is only a natural phenomenon. Battle scenes and period costumes from ancient Egypt add to the effectiveness of this colorful three-hour epic historical drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Zelnik, Barbara Brylska, (more)
A Mother superior in a 17th-century convent finds herself possessed by the Devil in this Polish drama set in a convent of Ursuline nuns. Several attempts are made to exorcise the demon. While four priests attempt to banish the spirit, two more are burned at the stake for impregnating her. All but one of the other nuns allow Satan's minions to enter their bodies. An extremely devout priest uses every power at his disposal to exorcise them. But even self-flagellation cannot stop them. In desperation, the priest consults an aged rabbi who suggests that the "demons" are really manifestations of human nature. The priest then finds himself becoming possessed by the Mother Superior. Suddenly he desires her body and soul. To prove his desire, he murders two stable grooms. He then encounters the one unpossessed nun who has just spent a night of lovemaking with an aristocrat who has since tossed her out. She is terribly upset and the priest advises her to go back to the convent and tell the Mother Superior of the lecherous man's misdeeds. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucyna Winnicka, Mieczyslaw Voit, (more)
Originally titled Pociag, this Polish Hitchcock homage stars Lucyna Winnicka and Leon Niemczyk. A mysterious young man (Niemczyk), claiming to be a doctor, boards the night train. Overcrowded conditions compels the new passenger to share a sleeping car with a secretive young woman (Winnicka). Neither of these reluctant companions is prone to small talk--and both seem to be hiding something. In fact, both seem to be running away from something. Once we've digested all this, it is revealed that the police are searching for a murderer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1956
Celebrated Polish director Jerzy Kawalerowicz (Mother Joan of the Angels, Night Train) helmed this conspiracy thriller. Exhibiting tremendous influence by Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon, it begins with the fact of a dead man's homicide, and then jumps back in time to present three possible versions of the events leading up to his murder. This film ran headfirst into a substantial amount of political difficulty because of its dire and merciless depiction of Polish officials as universally corrupt and untrustworthy. Nevertheless, it did pick up a nod for the Golden Palm at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival, losing to Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Louis Malle's Le Monde du Silence. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Award-winning filmmaker Jerzy Kawalerowicz follows-up his critically acclaimed 1954 drama Cellulose with this multi-dimensional sequel that finds sworn communist Szczesny (here played by the director) falling in love against the backdrop of rising tensions between the Polish government and the increasingly emboldened labor union. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The Polish-language social drama Celuloza (AKA Cellulose, 1954) witnesses the travails of a young man from a low economic strata (Józef Nowak) whose life turns a corner when he secures a job for a cellulose manufacturer in the big city. He subsequently undergoes radical politicization via repeated contact with his fellow workers and observation of their daily burdens. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
