Third Volume of POLISH CINEMA CLASSICS

The Polish Cinema Classics Vol. III DVD collection was released in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2015. The collection has been co-financed by the Polish Film Institute.

Collection Supported by the Polish Film Institute

The Polish Cinema Classics Vol. III DVD collection was released in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2015. The collection features three digitally-restored Polish films produced by Studio Filmowe Tor: Rejs (The Cruise) by Marek Piwowski, Dreszcze (Shivers) by Wojciech Marczewski and Barwy ochronne (Camouflage) by Krzysztof Zanussi. The collection was published by the Polish Cultural Institute, Kinoteka Polish Film Festival and Second Run DVD, with support from the Polish Film Institute.
This collection follows two previous editions of Polish films: Polish Cinema Classics Vol. I and Polish Cinema Classics Vol. II.

Marek Piwowski’s Rejs (The Cruise; 1970)

Rejs (The Cruise) is an experimental absurdist comedy. Made in 1970, the film follows the story of a group of passengers on a river cruise, and is composed of a series of improvised mini-scenes filmed in mock documentary style.

Krzysztof Zanussi’s Barwy ochronne (Camouflage; 1976)

One of the key works of the ‘cinema of moral anxiety’ movement, with a stellar performance by Zbigniew Zapasiewicz as a modern-day Mephisto. “Everyone is as much as conformist as you and me,” is one of the lessons the young assistant learns from his elder colleague. The place of learning is a university summer seminar, attended by both academics. The young idealist quickly learns how corrupt and intellectually shallow the community is, while also realising that he himself is not free from hypocrisy. Camouflage received a number of festival awards, including Rotterdam and Tehran.

Wojciech Marczewski’s Dreszcze (Shivers; 1981)

1955. 13-year-old Tomek’s father is arrested by the communist secret police. But this doesn’t stop the boy from being sent by the school authorities to a scout camp. Organised by dedicated communists, the camp is a place where children undergo brutal indoctrination. Tomek falls under the spell of a dedicated and loyal scout leader. Dreszcze (Shivers) received the Silver Bear special jury prize at the 1982 Berlin International Film Festival.

Reviews of Polish Cinema Classics Vol. III in international and Polish press:

The Guardian, Dvd Beaver, Cine Vue, The Digital Fix, ASFF, Noircafe, Close-upfilm, The Geek Show.

Paulina Bez

Translated by Karolina Kołtun