POLISH FILM ACADEMY

A graduate of the State Institute of Theatrical Arts in Warsaw (1937), he debuted on stage and in film after World War II. Born on December 16, 1916 in Moscow, died on August 17, 2002 in Warsaw. He had a small role in Zakazane Piosenki/Forbidden Songs by Leonard Buczkowski, then starred in Ostatni etap/The Last Stage by Wanda Jakubowska and Ulica Graniczna/Border Street by Aleksander Ford. During the era of socialist realism, he appeared in minor supporting roles (such as Sprawa do załatwienia by Jan Rybkowski and Jan Fethke, Przygoda na Mariensztacie/An Adventure At Marienstadt by Leonard Buczkowski, or Autobus odjeżdża 6.20/The Bus Leaves at 6.20 by Jan Rybkowski). His breakthrough, however, was his performance as Dzidziuś Górkiewicz in Scherzo alla Polacca in Andrzej Munk's Eroica.
Dzidziuś Górkiewicz was not only an emanation of Munk’s grotesque style, but also Dziewoński’s own wit. The actor was known for his comedic projects: he was the founder and one of the leading artists in the Dudek cabaret, performing in Warsaw between 1964-1974 and working on the Polish TV cult classic, Kabaret Starszych Panów [The elderly gentlemen’s cabaret]. His jokes were based on the characters' naivety and failure to grasp the meaning of reality. The epitome of this strategy was Dzidziuś, a clueless man facing great historical events. However, his plaintive high-pitched voice and large, astonished eyes belied his sly cunning.
Dziewoński’s last cinema film was Straszny sen Dzidziusia Górkiewicza [The scary dream of Dzidziuś Gorkiewicz] by Kazimierz Kutz.
In the early 1960s, Dziewoński started directing television theatre productions, in which he often starred himself. It was television that gave him the opportunity to experiment with various acting techniques. However, Dziewoński’s trademark, both as an actor and director was comedy, in its various genres (cabaret, film, theatre plays) and types. One of the few directors who saw him differently was Tadeusz Konwicki, who cast him as grandfather Surkont in Dolina Issy/The Issa Valley.

Artur Majer