Elżbieta Czyżewska, called „the queen of the sixties” by Andrzej Łapicki is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding and most talented Polish actresses of her time. Czyżewska, the idol for the crowds, was the personification of "girl from the neighbourhood". The audience loved her for her comedy roles of joyful, sensual blondes of such films of Stanisław Bareja as "Małżeństwo z rozsądku", "Żona dla Australijczyka" or "Mąż swojej żony". However, the cinema goers remember Czyżewska best as the partner of Zbigniew Cybulski in "Giuseppe in Warsaw" (Giuseppe w Warszawie). Apart from comedy, the actress played also many interesting dramatic roles, such as lieutenant "Listek" (Leaflet) in "Zaduszki" of Tadeusz Konwicki, the acrobat Teresa in "Dom bez okien" of Stanisław Jędryka, Ela in "Everything for sale" (Wszystko na sprzedaż) of Andrzej Wajda, or a triple role of Teresa, Barbara and the Leszczyc wife in "Rysopis" of Jerzy Skolimowski.
Her wonderful career was quite abruptly stopped by her emigration to the United States, as she decided to leave Polandwith her husband - David Halberstam, the „New York Times” correspondent who had became "persona non grata" in Polanddue to the anti-semi smear campaign in March 1968. Czyżewska, though tried to act in the States, didn’t manage to achieve film success there. However, her talent was appreciated by the critics of the off-Broadway scene, which is proved by Czyżewska receiving the prestigious Off-Broadway Theater Awards. From December 4th till December 28th we invite you to the review titled: Elżbieta Czyżewska – portrait of the actress, during which we will show films starring the artistst, such as "Giuseppe inWarsaw" (Giuseppe w Warszawie), "Everything for sale" (Wszystko na sprzedaż) and "Rysopis".
SCREENING SCHEDULE (Mała Czarna room)
22 th of December; 18.00 hrs
"Giuseppe in Warsaw" (Giuseppe w Warszawie) 99 min., Poland 1964
Dir.: Stanisław Lenartowicz; scr.: Jacek Wejroch; camera: Antoni Nurzyński; cast: Elżbieta Czyżewska, Antonio Cifariello, Zbigniew Cybulski, Jarema Stępowski, Krystyna Borowicz, Aleksander Fogiel
An Italian Giuseppe returns home from the Eastern front. Just nearWarsawhe gets robbed of his sub-machine gun. He suspects Maria, a young girl traveling with him to have stolen it. Giuseppe follows her to her flat and for him the new chapter of war starts as he, unexpectedly, finds himself “on the other side” helping the underground to secure weapon. “Giuseppe inWarsaw” is one of the few Polish films to present war in the comedy manner. The action of the film is brisk, full of funny gags and jokes. The main role in it plays the wonderful acting of a splendid cast. Zbigniew Cybulski revealed a true comic talent brilliantly playing the role of an anti-hero, a total opposite of Maciek Chełmicki from “Ashes and Diamonds”, with whom he was always identified.
"Giuseppe in Warsaw"
23 th of December; 20.00 hrs
"Everything for Sale" (Wszystko na sprzedaż) 98 min., Poland 1968
dir. And scr.: Andrzej Wajda; camera: Witold Sobociński; cast: Beata Tyszkiewicz, Elżbieta Czyżewska, Andrzej Łapicki, Daniel Olbrychski, Małgorzata Potocka
The plot of the film focuses on looking for the missing actor, who should have arrived on the set of the shooted movie but he didn’t. Ela, the actor’s wife, and Beata, the wife of the director and the former girlfriend ot the actor, both try to find him. A news spreads the the actor was killed when jumping out of the rushing train. To finish the film, the director asks Daniel, a friend of the late actor, to replace him. Daniel, though not sure and hesitating, finally agrees. Later, however, he, too, leaves the set suddenly. The film is an hommage to the great legend of the Polish cinema – Zbigniew Cybulski. At the same time it serves as a skilful and close-to-reality portrait of the film circle, where everytning is for sale, as everything may become the inspiration for the film.
"Everything for Sale"
28th of December; 20.45 hrs
"Rysopis" (Rysopis) 75 min., Poland 1964
dir. and scr.: Jerzy Skolimowski; camera.: Witold Mickiewicz; cast: Jerzy Skolimowski, Elżbieta Czyżewska, Tadeusz Minc, Jacek Szczęk
A feature debut of Skolimowski, the first part of the diptych about Andrzej Leszczyc, is said to be a manifesto of the young intelligentsia of the sixties and the hope of the Polish cinema of the time. Leszczyc – a young intellectual, lost in his life, desperately seeking the sense of his lot, quits the ichtchyological studies and volunteers to the army, as he thinks it is only there he can learn about real life. The film is composed of the etudes shot by Skolimowski during his studies at theLodzFilmSchool. Received the award (together with “Walkower”) at the International Film Festival in Arnheim in 1965.
"Rysopis"
Tickets prices:
12 PLN – reduced, 14 PLN – regular
Reservations:
phone: 22 462 72 60; e-mail: iluzjon.rezerwacje@fn.org.pl
