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Question of faith
G. JAYAKUMAR
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Agnieszka Holland, one of the pioneers of New Wave cinema in Poland, talks about her work.
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I have been inspired by literature, music and all other forms of art. But reality is my first inspiration.
Photo: S. Mahinsha
Quest for reality: Polish filmmaker and scenarist Agnieszka Holland.
Agnieszka Holland, renowned Polish filmmaker, television director and screenplay writer, was in the capital city to attend the 12th International Film Festival of Kerala as a member of the jury.
Born of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother in Poland, Agnieszka graduated in film studies from the Prague Film and TV Academy (FAMU) in Prague. She has been into films for more than 30 years.
Her movie ‘Angry Harvest’ won her the Academy Award nomination for the best foreign language film while ‘Europa Europa’ won her the Oscar nomination and the Golden Globe. She has associated with filmmakers such as Krzysztof Zanussi, Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Kieslowski to name a few. Holland worked with Kieslowski on the screeplay for his film ‘Three Colors: Blue.’ She played a prominent part in popularising the ‘New Wave Cinema’ in Poland.
Excerpts from an interview:
Source of inspiration
I have been inspired by literature, music and all other forms of art. But reality is my first inspiration. While doing films, I watch a lot of photographs. Even when making a period film, first I watch the gestures and lights on the characters that happened in reality and captured on camera. But it will not be a mere replica of what is there.
Things in a film
Making films is a little bit of a search, exploring the unknown. The last three movies dealt with faith. And the last one, ‘Julie Walking Home,’ is based on a real story. It tells the story of a Canadian woman’s life in distress and how the element of faith comes to her rescue. The question on faith is interesting as it has no answers.
Message to the viewer
No, I leave it open. Asking questions is more relevant than answering them. Politicians are here to give answers. Coming to films, the subject is so complicated and complex, it becomes difficult to give an answer.
Concept of filmmaking
The director is a bit like a God. He has to create something from nothing, to create the reality which never becomes alive, to put the kind of light on the characters and make them immortal, which is quite, in a way, a religious concept. This is my concept of filmmaking.
Movies
I did a couple of nineteen century films. I did one for children, ‘The Secret Garden,’ based on an English classic. The story actually starts in India. I created India in London. I would have loved to come to India and do the film.
Politics
Even after the Nazis left, there was another kind of oppression. There were some film directors who were eager to show something different. And the viewers were eager to watch. They began asking questions, though not officially. I got involved politically, writing and directing for others such as Wajda and Kieslowski.
When I was abroad at a festival, martial law was imposed in Poland. I began to associate with Lech Walesca of the Solidarity Movement. I began to speak against the oppression. I gave interviews in Switzerland, France and other places. It was difficult for me to return to Poland for I would be arrested. So I stayed in France to make a living. I made my first film ‘Provincial Actors’ in 1978.
Response to period films
As in Spain under Franco, films were more popular. I think oppression is good for art. When there was censorship, the audience would like to comment. They are able to understand symbolism, metaphors. When you are in the situation, as of now, they are watching second-rate American movies. So slight oppression is good. But being a citizen, I prefer the people to be free.
Other interests
I have been teaching cinema in Berlin, U.S. and Poland.
Hollywood
Not difficult working there. It’s a big industry with lots of money. But I am not interested in big Hollywood studios and action films. Instead, I like some of the TV channels such as HBO.
Recent ventures
Recent release was ‘Copying Beethoven,’ on the legendary musician. It was shot in Budapest (Hungary).
New projects
Two projects now. One is a period film on the Second World War. I am giving it a totally different treatment. It will be based on history and experience. My father was a Jew. He lost everything. But even after the Nazis left, the war never ended. More oppression took place. Different kinds of oppression, difficulty to speak the truth about what happened and so on. Modern history never dealt with the war in a final way. You can see this in former Yugoslovakia, the Balkan war, the Israel-Palestine conflict … it is all a continuation of the war. So I say the war has not ended politically and spiritually. It is not going to end in the near future.
India
My first visit and I am enjoying it. I have watched Mira Nair’s and Satyajit Ray’s films. I like them.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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