Little Moscow wins in Gdynia
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Very much praised by the audience despite its absence amongst the critics' favourites, Waldemar Krzystek's Little Moscow has won the Golden Lion of the 33rd Gdynia Polish Film Festival.
The film depicts the love story between the Russian wife of a Soviet military pilot (Svetlana Khodchenkova) and a young Polish lieutenant (Leslaw Zurek).
Viera and Michal meet in 1967 in Legnica (the Polish city with the largest Russian army), during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. "The script shows a fragment of the Poland’s and Russia’s recent history, which has yet not been explored artistically," said Krzystek during production.
The Silver Lion went to Before Twilight, the first fiction feature by documentary director Jacek Blawut. Its lead Jan Nowicki received Best Actor.
The jury also did not overlook some of the critics' favourites, particularly Malgorzata Szumowska's 33 Scenes of Life, which scooped up four prizes: a special mention for directing, Best Supporting Actress (Malgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik), Best Cinematography and Best Score. The film also received the Press Award.
Michal Rosa got a special mention for the screenplay of Scratch, whose actors were also under the limelight as the Special Jury Award went to Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieslak and Krzysztof Stroinski.
Jerzy Skolimowski's Four Nights with Anna was awarded the Special Directing Prize and two distinctions for set design and sound.
Another special mention, to the most promising young director, went to Maciej Pieprzyca for Splinters, which was won the editing category and saw Karolina Piechota pick up Best New Actress.
Lastly, the annual prize of the Association of Polish Filmmakers went to 0_1_0 by Piotr Lazarkiewicz.
Dorota Hartwich
cineuropa.org