Kino Na Granicy: Cinema on the Border

In many ways Cieszyn is a small town. Yes we have a market square, but if you walk ten minutes in any direction from there you are in the suburbs and then shortly there after villages. However, every year it is host to several festivals and other such exciting events. This past weekend was the film festival named Kino Na Granicy, or in English, Cinema on the Border. The Polish side of town works together with the Czech side and together they organize a 6-day schedule of films of all types and music. The films range from animation to documentary and from Polish to Czech to Slovak to Hungarian. There were new films and classics. There were four different viewing locations: the theater and cinema here in Cieszyn, the cinema in Cesky Tesin, and the border. Literally the border. For the small fee of 70 zl (just about $25) I got a full 6-day pass, a tote bag, and a t-shirt! Considering to go to one film costs 20 zl and a t-shirt would be about the same, it was a great deal!

So over the past five days, Sarah and I have seen a lot of movies. Some were great. Some were weird. Some I'm dying to see in English. Some I could have lived without. Overall it was a lot of fun, and it was great fun to feel the excitement of the crowd. AND, a free t-shirt. How cool! Here are some snip-bits about my favorite films and fun moments:

The Moon Inside You
This was a documentary about menstruation. Though not all of it was in English, a majority of the experts were American, British, or Australian so their expert testimonies were given in English. It was an innovative and interesting look at what it means to be a woman and how we should take pride in our bodies instead of feeling shameful about a completely natural process. Also, be rest assured that there was funny animation because after all what film about menstruation is complete without it!

Kinematograf
This was a short computer-animated film, and honestly probably my favorite of the whole weekend. It was about a man who was trying to invent the kinematograf and his wife who was secretly suffering from tuberculosis. The animation was uniquely done and the film featured fantastic music. I am always surprised when animation makes me feel so much in my heart.

Rewers
This was a film that was to capture the dark side of womanhood. It is a newly released Polish film, set in post WWII Warsaw. In the story, a young woman who is living with her mother and grandmother falls in love with a man and then the story takes a dark turn. I was surprised at how well I was able to follow the film, despite there not being any English. I would really like to see this movie again with subtitles so that I could better understand what was happening.

Boze Cialo: Corpus Christi
This was a documentary made by Adam Sikora, one of the most famous people in Polish film. It told the story of Silesia, the state in which I live here in Poland. It featured both the young and old. The young sharing their dreams of a better a life through rapping, and the old wishing for the days of communism, for the days when they could feed their family. I was shocked to see the poverty and depression of this area because it is nothing like what I live in here. I was reminded that I really am working with the upper class in Poland.

All in all, participating in this film festival was a great experience. The only regret I have is that is rained on Saturday night so I didn't get to watch a classic Polish love film over the river. I was going to sit in Czech and watch a movie in Poland. How stinkin' cool would that have been!!! I hope another opportunity presents itself to do this before I come home. And regardless I will wear my cool new t-shirt and carry my sweet new tote with pride.

Blessings,
Colleen