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The Wedding (1972 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Wesele (The Wedding)' is a motion picture made in 1972 in Poland by Andrzej Wajda as an adaptation of a play by the same title written by Stanisaw Wyspiaski in 1901. Wajda also directed "Wesele" for the theatre.
"Wesele" is a defining work of Polish drama written at the turn of the 20th century. It describes the perils of the national drive toward self-determination after the Polish uprisings of November 1830 and January 1863, the result of the Partitions of Poland. It also refers to the Galician slaughter of 1846. The plot is set at the wedding of a member of Krakw intelligentsia (the Bridegroom, played by Daniel Olbrychski), and his peasant Bride (played by Ewa Zitek). Their class-blurring union follows a fashionable trend among friends of the playwright from the modernist Young Poland movement.
The play by Wyspiaski was based on a real-life event: the wedding of Lucjan Rydel at the St. Mary's Basilica in Krakw and his wedding reception in the village of Bronowice. It was inspired in part also by the modernist painting of Jacek Malczewski and Maksymilian Gierymski.
Plot
A poet marries a peasant girl in Krakw. Their wedding reception follows. The celebration of the new marriage moves on from the city to the villager's house. In the rooms adjoining that of the wedding party, guests continually burst into arguments, make love, or simply rest from their merriment, dancing and feasting. Interspersed with the real guests are the well-known figures of Polish history and culture, who represent the guilty consciences of the characters. The two groups gradually begin a series of dialogues. The Poet (played by Andrzej apicki) is visited successively by the Black Knight, a symbol of the nation's past military glory; the Journalist (played by Wojciech Pszoniak), then by the court jester and conservative political sage Staczyk; and the Ghost of Wernyhora (Marek Walczewski), a paradigm of leadership for Poland. Wernyhora presents the Host with a golden horn symbolizing the national mission, and calls the Polish people to a revolt. One of the farm hands is dispatched to sound the horn at each corner of Poland, but he loses the horn soon after.
Cast
* Daniel Olbrychski, groom (Lucjan Rydel)
* Ewa Zitek, bride
* Andrzej apicki, poet (Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer)
* Wojciech Pszoniak - journalist (Rudolf Starzewski) and jester Staczyk
* Franciszek Pieczka Czepiec, 'gmina' scribe (real person: Baej Czepiec)
* Marek Walczewski, host (Wodzimierz Tetmajer)
* Izabella Olszewska, hostess
* Maja Komorowska Rachel
* Marek Perepeczko Jasiek
* Gabriela Kownacka Zosia
* Olgierd ukaszewicz - ghost (Ludwik de Laveaux (painter))
* Boena Dykiel Kasia
* Janusz Bukowski Kasper
* Artur Modnicki ghost of Wernyhora
* Wirgiliusz Gry - vampire in the image of Jakub Szela
* Leszek Piskorz Staszek
* Czesaw Woejko Hetman (Franciszek Ksawery Branicki)
* Mieczysaw Voit Jew, father of Rachel
* Hanna Skaranka Klimina
* Magorzata Lorentowicz Councilwoman
* Andrzej Szczepkowski Nos ("nose", journalist )
* Emilia Krakowska Marysia
* Mieczysaw Stoor Wojtek
* Barbara Wrzesiska Maryna
* Henryk Borowski Grandfather
* Kazimierz Opaliski - Father
* Maria Konwicka Haneczka
* Anna Gralska Isia
* Mieczysaw Czechowicz - Priest
* Wiktor Grotowicz Ghost accompanying Hetman
* Czesaw Niemen Chocho (fictional character) (literally straw wrap) (voice)
and
* Kamionka (folk band from ysa Gra)
* Koronka (folk band from Bobowa)
* Opocznianka (folk band Opoczno)
Awards
* Silver Seashell Award at the San Sebastin International Film Festival.
See also
* Culture of Krakw
* Juliusz Sowacki Theatre
* Polish Film School
References
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