Academy of Polish Cinema: The Palace (1980)

Palace, 1980, directed by Tadeusz Junak

As a result of the hostilities, the Magnate's palace is ravaged. Jakub (Janusz Michałowski), a court sheep shepherd, enters an empty palace. A stimulated imagination begins to give him scenes with his participation in the role of the bright master. The collision of peasant consciousness with the attributes of your life triggers a whole wave of peasant resentment and fantasy about becoming an heir. He sees himself in exquisite clothes, manages the work of the service, poses for portraits. At the set table, he discusses with his cousin, visits the bishop and takes part in the hunt. He visits the heiress in the bedroom, but also exercises the right of the first night with the young boy on the day of her wedding. Peasant anger gradually breaks through your customs, and rebellious peasants approach the palace. At the ball, Jacob, toasting for himself, declares that he dreams of giving everything to the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. He complains about your loneliness. He chooses a beautiful boy (Bożena Adamkówna) as his wife, showcases her with jewels, is above the state, but is about to give her a spectacular funeral. In order to show the contrast between the real and the imagined life of the peasants, he plays in an idyll on the stage of the theater. The palace is on fire, and with it the whole world of Jacob is reduced to rubble.

A visual psychological drama with a peasant hero directed and according to the script by Tadeusz Junak, author of documentary films and director of television performances, co-creator of the Film Form Workshop in Łódź.

The Palace is an adaptation of Wiesław Myśliwski's novel of the same name (1970), from a rural trend, about the transformations of popular consciousness. The narrative is completely subjective, based on the work of the hero's imagination. The photos were taken in the palace in Łańcut. The director received an award for his debut at the Koszalin Film Debut Festival “Młodzi i Film” (1980). At the 7th FPFF in Gdańsk, prizes were awarded: for photos — Ryszard Lenczewski, for editing — Janina Niedźwiedzka, for sound — to Jan Czerwiński and Jerzy Blaszyński.

18:00 - introductory lecture

19:30 - screening of Tadeusz Junak's film based on the prose of Wiesław Myśliwski

Screening with english subtitles.