07/06/2013 - Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze will unveil a film in its world premiere about the tragic destiny of Romani poetess Bronislawa Wajs

Amongst the competing titles, Agnieszka Holland, who will preside over the jury of the international competition of the 48th Karlovy Vary Film Festival (from June 28th to July 6th), will be able to enjoy a Polish production that will premiere globally in the Czech city: Papusza [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joanna Kos Krauze
film profile] by Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze.

The Krauzes were already rewarded in Karlovy Vary in 2005 with My Nikifor [+see also:
film review
film profile], which won the Crystal Globe for Best Film as well as the awards for Best Director and Best Actress. An achievement that will find an echo this year, in as much as Papusza in some ways finds its origins in a similar concept: shedding light on artists whose genius has never been sufficiently recognized nor appreciated. And just like My Nikifor, Papusza is not a monument-film designed to honour a hero, but an intimate story focusing on the life of an individual with its joys and especially its tragedies.

The character referred to in the title is Bronislawa Wajs, a Romani poetess who lived in Poland (1908–1987) and was discovered by the famous poets Jerzy Ficowski and Julian Tuwim (who worked hard to get her work published). Ostracized by Polish Romani who accused her of betraying their secrets, Papusza sank into mental illness and gave up writing completely.

The first Polish film to be filmed in the Roma language, Papusza’s title role is played by Jowita Budnik, already revealed very much to her advantage in Savior’s Square by the Krauze duo in 2006. The cinematography has been handled by Krzysztof Ptak and Wojciech Staron. Produced by Argomedia – Lambros Ziotas, Papusza was coproduced by Polish Film Institute, the National Polish Television, Canal+ Polska and the studio KADR.

The public attending the Karlovy Vary Festival will also discover other Polish productions, notably Floating Skyscrapers [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tomasz Wasilewski
film profile] by Tomasz Wasilewski and The Girl from the Wardrobe [+see also:
trailer
interview: Bodo Kox
film profile] by Bodo Kox in the competitive East of the West section. As for documentaries, The Man Who Made Angels Fly by Wiktoria Szymanska stands out, as well as Rogalik by Pawel Ziemilski. Finally, Kamchatka by Jerzy Kowynia will be presented in the Independents’ Forum.