"As a poet, my mind is trained along the path of associations-I'm not afraid to wander away from direct narrative. I feel safe with a story that tempts you to believe or disbelieve." -Jerzy Skolimowski

A painter, poet, actor, writer, and director, Jerzy Skolimowski was one of the most original filmmakers to emerge during the 1960s. With a series of highly original and exciting films that captured the contradictions and energy of postwar Poland, Skolimowski was a leading figure of the Polish New Wave. However, he left his home country in the late 1960s after facing strict censorship for his unbridled, subversive film Hands Up! Until his recent return to Poland, he lived throughout Europe and in Los Angeles, and he has made a series of powerfully expressive films that examine themes including exile, romance, corruption, dreams, psychology, and politics. After a long exile from filmmaking, Skolimowski has returned in fine form in the past few years with the mesmerizing Four Nights With Anna and the radically bold Essential Killing. Jerzy Skolimowski will present Essential Killing in person on June 10.

Presented with support from the Polish Cultural Institute in New York, and additional support from the Polish National Film Archive in Poland. The series is presented in collaboration with the Harvard Film Archive. Special thanks: Natalia Babinski (Polish Cultural Institute New York), Haden Guest (Harvard Film Archive)

Featured Works:

Rysopis (1965); Walkover (1965); Barrier (1966, pictured); Hands Up! (1967/1981); The Departure (1967); Deep End (1970); King, Queen, Knave (1972); The Shout (1978); Moonlighting (1982); Four Nights With Anna (2008); Essential Killing (2010)

Program information:

The Cinema of Jerzy Skolimowski

Related Articles:
Essential Wandering by Michael Atkinson posted Jun. 10, 2011
Pure Escapes by Chris Fujiwara posted Jul. 10, 2009