"BODY" IN SWISS AND DANISH CINEMAS

Body/Ciało (Body), a film directed by Małgorzata Szumowska and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, will be released theatrically in January in both Switzerland and Denmark.

Body/Ciało (Body) in Swiss and Danish Cinemas

Szumowska’s latest feature will be released theatrically in Switzerland on January 7. Distribution is handled by Trigon Film. On January 21, the film will be released in Denmark, with distribution handled by REEL Pictures ApS.

Body/Ciało (Body) will be released theatrically in a total of 25 territories. Małgorzata Szumowska’s earlier films have also been distributed internationally — W imię… (In the Name Of…) was sold to 25 countries, while Sponsoring (Elles) was released in 40 territories.

Małgorzata Szumowska’s latest film premiered in Poland on March 6, 2015. The film was later released theatrically in Serbia (May 14), Turkey (July 24), Colombia (August 6), Germany (October 29), Italy (November 5), and Brazil (December 17).

A story Told with Astute Irony

A cynical prosecutor and his anorectic daughter are both trying to deal with the death of a loved one, each in their own way. One day, the girl’s therapist Anna announces that their deceased relative has contacted her from the beyond and has a message for them; this forces both father and daughter to reevaluate their views of life and death.

According to the director, this is a film about our attitudes towards the body, about solitude and loneliness in present-day Poland, told through an ironic, tongue-in-cheek story. Through her three main protagonists, Małgorzata Szumowska portrays the absurdities of life, its beauty and ugliness, as well as people who, for better or worse, search for their own spiritual path.

A Film Supported by the Polish Film Institute

The screenplay for Body/Ciało (Body) was written by Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert, who also lensed the film. The film stars Janusz Gajos, Justyna Suwała and Maja Ostaszewska, with supporting performances by Tomasz Ziętek, Ewa Dałkowska, Adam Woronowicz, and Małgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik. Body/Ciało (Body) was produced by Nowhere and co-produced by Kino Świat, D35 and the Warsaw Mazovia Film Fund. World sales are handled by Memento Films International. Body/Ciało (Body) was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

World Premiere and Silver Bear in Berlin

Małgorzata Szumowska’s Body/Ciało (Body) had its world premiere at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival, where the film screened in Main Competition.

For her work on Body/Ciało (Body), Małgorzata Szumowska received the Silver Bear Award for Best Director, ex aequo with Romanian director Radu Jude for his film Aferim.

Body/Ciało (Body) has also received awards at film festivals in Vienna, Brussels, Dortmund, Peru, Vilnius, and Malta. The film was in official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival.

Jacek Drosio received the European Editor 2015 award of the European Film Academy for his work on Body/Ciało (Body) and Małgorzata Szumowska has been nominated for the European Film Award in the prestigious Best European Director category.

Translated by Karolina Kołtun