21/11/2008

The month of November may seem one of the most promising periods for Polish productions in terms of the number of domestic films hitting screens. However, their box office results, particularly for auteur films, dampens any optimism.

In recent years, audience figures have revealed that Polish viewers have a preference for local romantic comedies, as proven by Slawomir Krynski’s current hit It's Not What You Think, Darling. During its first weekend on release, the film garnered 145,195 admissions, which is among the best box office starts in 2008 for Polish features of the same genre.

Other successes this year include Ladies (302,000 admissions during its first week-end in February out of a total 2.5m) and Piotr Weresniak’s Don’t Lie, Honey (280,000 viewers during its first weekend in March out of a total 1.4m).

Of the 11 films to have achieved the best box office starts in 2008, five are Polish productions, including four romantic comedies. Pawel Pitera’s Testimony – a cinematic portrait of Polish Pope Jean Paul II – is the only title that does not belong to the romantic genre.

Moreover, box office figures for auteur films are declining, with the exception of Malgorzata Szumowska’s 33 Scenes from Life [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which has exceeded the 100,000 admissions mark since its release on November 7. Having attracted 3,280 and 1,530 viewers respectively, Lukasz Barczyk’s Unmoved Mover [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (feature filmed in a style that recalls David Lynch) and Piotr Lazarkiewicz’s 0_1_0, on the other hand, had a disappointing first weekend.

This analysis of current trends makes it difficult to predict what kind of reception awaits Dariusz Gajewski’s Mr. Kuka’s Advice, which is being launched in theatres today. Audiences will perhaps react more enthusiastically to Waldemar Krzystek’s Little Moscow [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which was crowned Best Film at the latest Gdynia Polish Film Festival.

(Translated from French)