Tag Archives: Poland

The Austin Public Library has partnered with the Austin Polish Society to present FREE monthly screenings of award-winning Polish films of different genres every month at the Manchaca Branch. Films are unrated and have English subtitles. “Erratum” screens Sunday, May 5, 2013, at 3:30 p.m.

A few days before his son’s First Communion, Michał (Tomasz Kot) returns to his hometown to run an errand for his boss. He is to pick up an imported car from customs and return home as soon as possible. But then things take on a different turn. Michał has to stay in town for a few days. He has to wait. As he walks through the city streets, he encounters people he used to be close with; he visits familiar places. Something awakens inside him; something he had long forgotten about. He tries to fight for it. 

Austin Polish Society presents the Polish Art Song Recital and Famous Opera Arias, Sunday, April 28, 2013, at 4 p.m. Polish songs and famous opera arias will be performed by mezzo-soprano Ewa Plonka accompanied by Tatiana Storozheva on piano. Coffee, tea, Polish pastries and a wine cash bar. Tickets $15

The Austin Public Library has partnered with the Austin Polish Society to present FREE monthly screenings of award-winning Polish films of different genres every month at the Manchaca Branch. Films are unrated and have English subtitles.  “The Rite of Passage 1947” screens Sunday, April 7, 2013, at 3:30 p.m.

Excerpt from a review on www.culture.pl, an online magazine devoted to promoting Polish culture.

Seventeen-year-old Ludwik Taschke travels from Lwow to Kraków in the spring of 1945, along with his parents and his sister. The boy is fascinated with his new city, previously known to him only through postage stamps. He is accepted to a reputable school, where the teachers don’t talk about the changes currently underway in the country. Their task is simply to prepare the boys for a moral life – independent of politics. For the time being, Ludwik is simply concerned with being a teenager, trying to single himself out amongst his contemporaries, and suffering the first raptures of love. Politics soon creep into his life, entirely unwelcome. (Full review | http://www.culture.pl/web/english/resources-film-full-page/-/eo_event_asset_publisher/eAN5/content/mala-matura-1947-rite-of-passage-1947)

The Austin Public Library has partnered with the Austin Polish Society to present FREE monthly screenings of award-winning Polish films of different genres every month at the Manchaca Branch. Films are unrated and have English subtitles.

The 2013 Polish Film Series begins Sunday, Feb. 17, at 3:30 p.m. with the screening of “Big Animal” / Duże zwierzę.

“Big Animal” (Duże zwierzę) – (2000) – 73 min. Mr. Sawicki, a respectable bank clerk, appears in the streets of his town in the company of a camel. The residents are astonished. Their initial friendliness and surprise turn into widespread hostility. Local government offices demand that the camel be registered and tax paid for it, officials receive letters claiming the animal is soiling the streets and distracting the children at school and, most importantly, could be the carrier of a tropical disease. Picket lines appear in front of the Sawickis’ house, demanding that the exotic resident be removed.

The Austin Public Library has partnered with the Austin Polish Society to present FREE monthly screenings of award-winning Polish films of different genres every month. Films are unrated and have English subtitles.  This month’s screening, “The Structure of Crystal,” takes place Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at 7:30 p.m.

“The Structure of Crystal” (Struktura Krysztalu) – 1969 – 74 min.

Jan and Anna live in the countryside. Jan, a talented physicist, works as a meteorologist. Anna is a teacher in a local school. They value peace and quiet and live modestly isolated from the busy world around them. One day, Jan’s friend from college, Marek, pays them a visit. Equally talented, Jan and Marek chose completely different lifestyles. Marek, has recently returned from a prestigious internship abroad, and is at the start of a brilliant scientific career. Jan chose the solitude in a countryside. It turns out that Marek’s visit has an agenda. His professor asked him to convince Jan to return to the university and get involved in research. Old friends’ opposite choices, outlooks at life, and understandings of their roles in the world collide under the lid of everyday events and goofing around in the snow. Marek’s attitude, extremely rational, practical, dynamic, geared toward effectiveness and professional success is juxtaposed against Jan’s approach, perhaps equally rational, but a one that prioritizes independence and living a life in accordance with one’s inner rhythm and values, away from competing and calculated ambitions, away from the pressure of being evaluated.

In the period extremely bitter and difficult for the intelligentsia of the time, it is especially this part of the audience whom Zanussi addresses in his film. He engages them in a dialogue about two different attitudes toward life, society, and work. Zanussi does not suggest which choice is good and which is bad. It is not possible to make this distinction; the world is much more complicated.

“And a Warm Heart” (Serce Na Dloni) - 2008 Comedy Thriller, 100 min.

At the suggestion of the Austin Ukrainian community, the September Polish Movie Night will honor one of the greatest Ukrainian actors, Bogdan Stupka, who passed away in July this year at the age of 71. In memory of this acclaimed and accomplished artist, Austin Polish Society chose the film “And a Warm Heart” by Krzysztof Zanussi, an official selection of the 2008 Rome Film Festival.  Stupka won the best actor award for his lead role as Konstanty. The film is unrated and has English subtitles.

Oligarch Konstanty (Ukrainian actor Bodhan Stupka), whose body is falling apart from a lifetime of intemperance, urgently needs a heart transplant. What better donor than Stefan, a healthy young man intent on killing himself? Why not give him a hand in achieving his goal?

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 7:30 p.m. @ Austin Java, 1206 Parkway, Austin, TX.

VINCI – 2004 – Comedy/ Thriller  – 108 minutes

After several years of serving his sentence, Cuma – a notorious art thief is released from prison due to his poor health.  It was all arranged by dealer Gruby who plans a heist of the famous ‘Lady with an Ermine’ by Leonardo da Vinci [the most prestigious painting in the Polish collections, from the Czartoryski Museum in Cracow]. Cuma is contracted to steal the painting. He invites his former partner Julian to join the team, not knowing that his best friend is now a policeman and will do anything to prevent the heist.  Julian seeks cooperation with an old forger Hagen and a beautiful young art student Magda.  Written by BrunaCarli.

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME AND PLACE.  The August screening takes place on August 20, 2012, from 7-9 p.m. at the Windsor Park Branch.

The Austin Public Library has partnered with the Austin Polish Society to present free monthly screenings of award-winning Polish films of different genres every month.  Films are unrated and have English subtitles.

Comedy/ Thriller  – 100 minutes

Teenagers in modern Warsaw: Kuba Brenner wants to become a violinist. Kuba wants to help his very shy friend, Oskar, to meet some girls.  Through a series of complicated and very humorous accidents, Kuba finds himself in the middle of a meeting of the local Polish Mafia.  Events go from bad to worse for Kuba when some men attempt to rob the gangsters: shots are fired, and two of the bandits, Grucha and Bolec, are wounded.

The Austin Public Library has partnered with the Austin Polish Society to present free monthly screenings of award-winning Polish films of different genres every second Tuesday of the month.  Films are unrated and have English subtitles.  The July screening takes place on July 10, 2012, from 7-9 p.m.

MAP