Polish Film Academy: Interwar Genres: Melodrama | Znachor

TypeHall 1 - Cinema

Hour

09.11

|

Jan 17 |

Lecture: Marek Kaźmierczak, PhD

Znachor (100')

Produced in 1937, “Znachor” was largely the result of the work of artists of Jewish origin: director Michał Waszyński, screenwriter Anatol Stern, composer Henryk Wars and set designer Jacek Rotmil. The film was made at the Feniks label, owned by Fajga and Leon Fenigstein, who were also behind the production of another famous film by Waszyński — made in Yiddish Dybuk. The first film adaptation of Tadeusz Dołęgi-Mostowicz's novel started a phenomenon that has permanently entered Polish pop culture — the story of the brilliant surgeon Wilczur, who loses his memory, has received two more high-profile adaptations.

Language: PolskiZnachor, dir. Michał Waszyński, Poland 1937, 100'

--For whom: youth, adults

Venue: Sala 1 - Kinowa

Tickets: PLN 15 (for a single session), PLN 150 (pass for the whole semester)

The surgeon Rafał Wilczur is leaving his wife. He's taking his little girl with him. A wolf wanders around Warsaw. Together with a random friend, Jemiol gets drunk. He is robbed and beaten. He's losing his memory. The wife is left alone, the lover died crushed by a tree. She works as a seamstress, then a taper

in the cinema. The she-wolf, repeatedly detained for vagrancy, takes the name of the deceased Kosiba. Living with a miller, he heals his crippled son and begins to treat the surrounding peasants. Marysia after the death of her mother becomes a taper in the cinema. He has two suitors: Leszek Czyński and Wojdyła. Jealous Woydyłło causes an accident in which she and Leszek are injured. In order to carry out the operation, the magician steals tools from the town doctor. Before the court, he is acquitted and recognized by his rival — Dr. Dobraniecki. Leszek and Marysia want to get married. The scoundrel at his wife's grave recovers his memory

and returns to his hospital. She comes to her daughter's wedding at the last minute.