DEATH OF A PRESIDENT
(SMIERC PREZYDENTA)

1978, 137 min., Poland
Polish with English subtitles

DIRECTION:
Jerzy Kawalerowicz
SCRIPT:
Boleslaw Michalek, Jerzy Kawalerowicz
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Witold Sobocinski, Jerzy Lukaszewicz
ART DIRECTION:
Wojciech Krysztofiak, Adam T. Nowakowski
MUSIC:
Adam Walacinski
EDITING:
Wieslawa Otocka
SOUND:
Jerzy Blaszynski
PRODUCED BY:
Studio Filmowe KADR

CAST:
Zdzislaw Mrozewski (President Gabriel Narutowicz), Marek Walczewski (Eligiusz Niewiadomski), Henryk Bista (Priest Marceli Nowakowski), Czeslaw Byszewski (Dr Julian Nowak), Jerzy Duszynski (Jozef Pilsudski), Edmund Fetting (General Jozef Haller)

Set at the historic moment of rebirth of Poland after World War I. The newly organized National Assembly elects Gabriel Narutowicz, a professor returning home from Switzerland to be the first President in the history of Polish Republic. The film shows the turmoil leading to Narutowicz's election by the National Assembly devided between Polish Nationalists and the minorities comprising one third of the population. A few days after the election the President is assasinated while opening an art exhibit.

JERZY KAWALEROWICZ

One of the most internationally acclaimed Polish film directors and a leading figure in the Polish Film School movement. Kawalerowicz was noted for his powerful, detail-oriented imagery and the depth of ideas in his films.

Born in Gwozdziec, Poland (now Gvozdets, Ukraine) in 1922. Studied in the Cracow Academy of Fine Arts (1946-1949), and while still there he undertook a Course for Professional Filmmaking (1946). After working as an assistant director in 1946-1949, he made his directorial debut in 1951. In 1955 he was appointed head of the prestigious KADR Film Studio. In the 80's he lectured in the Lodz Film School. Although the Communist Party member from 1954 until its dissolution, he resisted pressures from the administration to produce propaganda films. In 1983 he alienated some of his peers by signing communist government reports criticizing filmmakers aligned with "Solidarity." In 1985-89 he was a member of Polish Parliament. He is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including life achievement awards from the Polish Film Academy. Mar del Plata and Gdynia Film Festivals. He died in 2007 in Warsaw.

Filmography as a Director:

2001 Quo Vadis;
1995 What For? (Za co?);
1991 Bronstein's Children (Bronsteins kinder);
1989 The Hostage of Europe (Jeniec Europy);
1983 Austeria;
1980 Chance Meeting on the Atlantic (Spotkanie na Atlantyku);
1977 Deat of a President (Smierc prezydenta);
1971 Maddalena;
1968 Game (Gra);
1965 Pharaoh (Faraon); nominated to the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language Film;
1960 Mother Joan of Angels (Matka Joanna od Aniolow);
1959 Night Train (Pociag);
1957 The Real End of the Great War (Prawdziwy koniec wielkiej wojny);
1956 Shadow (Cien);
1954 Under the Phrygian Star (Pod gwiazda frygijska);
1953 Celulose (Celuloza);
1951 The Village Mill (Gromada).

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 6.30pm (GALLERY THEATRE)