THE HEROINES OF 1930S POLISH CINEMA

We are witnessing a new wave of evening up the position of men and women, redefining social roles, and pushing further towards gender equality; a new wave, but certainly not the first and most likely not the last one. We invite you to take a look at our times from a historical perspective.

At the Film and Art Festival Two Riversides, we will present four films from the 1930s. All of them, though made by men, depict female characters who are well-defined, strong, active, emancipated and educated, like the titular engineer in “Is Lucyna a Girl?” (“Czy Lucyna to dziewczyna?”, 1934).

The post-war years, a period of rapid development and radical changes, have been reflected in film characters who break stereotypes related to social roles and professional life, which still hold true today, after so many years. Our heroines look for their place in domains traditionally exclusive to men, like Joanna from “I’m in Charge Here!” (“Ja tu rządzę”, 1939), a resourceful and resolute daughter of a shoemaker, staunchly running the shop by herself, whom a young count, a roisterer and a wastrel, must grow to deserve, or Lucyna, who has difficulties pursuing the profession of engineer despite receiving education abroad. Sounds familiar?

Naturally, a film would not be complete without some drama. The interwar period audiences loved watching depictions of male-female relations, though it is worth noting just how independent and self-reliant women are in those times. Marriage is no longer an unbreakable bond, society relaxes its conservative views, and staying in or leaving a marriage is considered a lifestyle choice rather than a moral dilemma. These ideas are given particular attention in “Second Youth” (“Druga młodość”, 1938) and “My Parents Are Getting Divorced” (“Moi rodzice rozwodzą się”, 1938). Please join us on this marvellous trip back in time on four consecutive days in the Small Cinema.

Dominika Żukowska

The screenings are made possible by courtesy of the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute (FINA).

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