The Second World War has been a fertile source of inspiration for Polish directors and filmmakers. Beginning with the invasion by Germany in 1939 and continuing through the liberation of Warsaw by units of the Soviet army in 1945, the events of that six-year period in history had a long-lasting effect on the country and the citizens of Poland.
A loosely formed group of filmmakers and writers developed following the close of World War II to produce movies depicting life in Poland during the years of German occupation and beyond. From 1955 through the early 1960s, the Polish Film School, as the group came to be called, documented the struggles of the nation and its people during the war and in the post-war period.
Filmmakers such as Andrzej Wajda, who received an honorary Academy Award for his body of work, used their films to study individual heroism as it existed during the extended years of conflict. Other filmmakers, such as Andrzej Munk, used their films to focus on the politics and social issues of the post-war period.
Wajda's trilogy of war movies began in 1954 with "A Generation" and was followed by "Kanal" in 1956 and "Ashes and Diamonds" in 1958. Based on the Bohdan Czeszko novel "Pokolenie," "A Generation" is set in Warsaw in 1942 and portrays the impact of war on the people living within the city. Wajda uses the movie to tell the story of two young men drawn to the resistance movement from different backgrounds and for different reasons. "A Generation" allowed the filmmaker to offer a glimpse into the struggles facing post-war Poland under communism.
The Warsaw Uprising is the theme of Wajda's second war movie, "Kanal." Set in Warsaw in 1944, the film tells the story of a group of resistance fighters during the waning days of the battle to save the city. Much of the film is set in the sewers beneath the city as the band of resistance fighters attempt to escape from the German slaughter that would eventually take the lives of many Warsaw residents. The film was recognized at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.
"Ashes and Diamonds" was released in 1958 as the third film in Wajda's war trilogy. The movie is set in a Polish town on the day Germany surrendered to mark the end of the war in Poland. The film uses the story of a Polish resistance member assigned to assassinate an incoming communist leader. Through a series of mistakes and chance encounters, the would-be assassin falls in love with a barmaid and realizes how much better his life could be.
The film ends with the death of the communist politician as celebrations take place marking the end of the war. The resistance fighter has little time to enjoy thoughts of a new life away from war and conflict as the movie ends with him being accidentally shot and killed.
Friday, July 25, 2014
A Trilogy of War Movies From Andrzej Wajda
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
Hup Holland Hup
What I will be writing here is an aftermath...
Thursday, June 26, 2014
My Favorite Poetry Lines
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.
2. E.E. Cummings
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere I go you go,my dear;
and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling)
I fear no fate (for you are my fate,my sweet)
I want no world (for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you here
is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)
3. Khalil Gibran, The Prophet
You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.
4. Mary Oliver
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
5. Walt Whitman
What is that you express in your eyes? It seems to me more than all the print I have read in my life.
6. J.R.R. Tolkien
Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate And though I oft have passed them by A day will come at last when I Shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun.
7. Seamus Heaney, Stepping Stones: Interview with Seamus Heaney
If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way.
8. Anne Sexton
As it has been said: Love and a cough cannot be concealed. Even a small cough. Even a small love.
9. Ian Fleming, You Only Live Twice
You only live twice: Once when you're born And once when you look death in the face.
10. Andrea Gibson
That night when you kissed me, I left a poem in your mouth, and you can hear some of the lines every time you breathe out.
11. Mae West
You are never too old to become younger!
12. William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116
Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove. O no, it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wand'ring bark, Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
13. Neil Gaiman, Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders
She seems so cool, so focused, so quiet, yet her eyes remain fixed upon the horizon. You think you know all there is to know about her immediately upon meeting her, but everything you think you know is wrong. Passion flows through her like a river of blood. She only looked away for a moment, and the mask slipped, and you fell. All your tomorrows start here.
Life In My Coffee
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
The Best New Jersey Wineries
A fine wine can make an evening that much better. A fine winery,
however, can be the perfect weekend destination. New Jersey has a number
of respected wineries, many of which are great choices for a weekend
tour or afternoon tasting. When considering a winery visit in New
Jersey, these five destinations should be at the top of the list.
1. Cape May Winery. The Cape May Winery is popular with tourists, and it
is not hard to see why. The winery has three tasting rooms and a
spectacular deck that overlooks the vineyard. Cape May has flourished
thanks to its broad appeal. While some wineries strive to find a niche
and stick to that, the Cape May Winery has taken a wider approach. The
vast grounds cover 150 acres, which allows the winery to grow sixteen
varieties and produce more than twenty different wine styles. In
particular, the Merlot and Chardonnay are especially well received. The
Cape May Winery hosts tastings, tours and other private events.
2. Laurita Winery. Located in New Egypt, Laurita’s has all the finishes
of an exclusive winery without the steep prices. Laurita’s offers a wide
range of tastings, creating unique experiences that are not typically
available elsewhere. However, every guest can afford the wine there,
making it a popular choice for all types of wine connoisseurs. As part
of the overall experience at Laurita’s, tastings are complemented with
other entertainment as well, and Laurita’s has hosted everything from
musical performances to movie nights and more. Laurita’s also has a
gourmet deli, which can make any wine tasting even more delicious.
3. Alba Winery and Vineyard. Alba is an inclusive food and drink
experience. This impressive winery not only produces fine wines but it
also provides catering for a wide range of events. As if that were not
enough, Alba also has its own gallery and can offer customers an
enviable selection of upscale cigars. Every employee at Alba is fully
dedicated to the job, which is why the tours and tastings are so
popular. When it comes to the wine, Alba has had particular success with
its dessert and sparkling variations, and its white wine has won
industry awards. Alba Vineyard and Winery is located in the Village of
Finesville in Milford.
4. Unionville Vineyards. Unionville stands out for its history. Sections
of the winery were built in 1858, and much of the vineyard is
considered part of New Jersey’s Farmland Preservation Program. The
current ownership has been operating the Unionville Vineyards for 20
years, and in that time, Unionville has been established as one of the
most trusted vineyards in the state. Even with this, Unionville’s best
days may be ahead thanks to the work of Cameron Stark, who produced a
2010 Pheasant Hill Chardonnay that is bringing fresh attention to the
wine scene in New Jersey.
The only thing better than a fine wine is a better winery. Visit any of these wineries for an unforgettable experience.
