Two short Polish films

Continuing with Universo Lem: this week, a double bill of two short-ish Polish films.

Przekładaniec (1968)

a film by Andrzej Wajda

Wajda’s genius is evident in this black (and white) comedy based on a short story Are you there, Mr. Jones? by Stanisław Lem, with a jazzy score by Andrzej Markowski. What makes the film even more hilarious today is that it’s almost not a science fiction anymore.

Polacy Polacy (2003)

a film by Borys Lankosz

This documentary focuses (if you can call it that) on the work of photographer Krzysztof Gierałtowski who, in his turn, portrays the famous citizens of Kraków: Stanisław Lem, Krzysztof Penderecki and Wisława Szymborska. A bit odd choice for the Lem cycle as Mr Lem himself does not say much here. The film would do better without Gierałtowski’s bizarre sermon on Polish identity (yawn).