LOVE STORIES  [1997]

LOVE STORIES

year:

1997

release date:

8 IX 1997

runtime:

87 min

directed by:

Jerzy Stuhr

written by:

Jerzy Stuhr

director of photography:

Paweł Edelman

cast:

Jerzy Stuhr [a university professsor / a priest / Col. Jerzy Matalowski / Prisoner Zdzisław Filip / the petitioner], Katarzyna Figura [Kryśka], Dominika Ostałowska [Ewa Bielska], Irina Ałfiorowa [Tamara], Karolina Ostrożna [Magda Jarzębska], Teresa Sawicka [wife of Col. Matalowski], Jerzy Nowak [the investigator], Jerzy Trela [a general], Andrzej Hudziak [the assistant investigator], Katarzyna Łaniewska [Filip’s mother], Artur Barciś [a lawyer]

edited by:

Elżbieta Kurkowska

music by:

Adam Nowak

production design:

Allan Starski

produced by:

Studio Filmowe „Zebra”

producer:

Juliusz Machulski, Jacek Moczydłowski, Jacek Bromski

awards:

  • Polish Film Festival Gdynia 1997: Grand Prix Golden Lions, Arthouse Cinemas Award and the Polish Radio Krakow Award for Adam Nowak
  • European Film Award 1998: nomination for the Best Actor Award for Jerzy Stuhr
  • Award of the Polish Cinema Association 1997: Silver Ticket
  • "Polityka" Passport 1998 for Jerzy Stuhr
  • Lubusz Film Summer Łagów 1997: Silver Grape, film press award
  • Warsaw Mermaid 1997
  • IFF Venice (Italy) 1997: FIPRESCI Award, OCIC honorary mention, the Navicella Catholic Film Center Award, the ANICA Flash Award
  • Golden Reel 1998
  • Film Review Prowincjonalia Słupca 1998: Best Actor award for Jerzy Stuhr
  • Silver Tape of the Association of Italian Film Critics 1998
  • Tarnów Film Award 1998: the Bronze Leliwita Statuette
  • IFF Newport Beach Film Festival (USA), 1998: Grand Prix
  • International Screen Actors Festival Riga (Latvia) 1998: Grand Prix Baltic Pearl

About the film

The film, dedicated to Krzysztof Kieślowski, is not only a tribute to the master, but also a continuation of his philosophy, which used film as a form of modern morality play. Stuhr tells simple stories with a clear message. He shows how thin a line divides ethical attitudes that are considered to be good or bad and that one decision can affect the formation of the human personality. Love Stories also contains a masterful performance by Jerzy Stuhr.

The film consists of four parallel narratives telling the stories of mature men faced with an emotional choice.

Ewa, a student, is in love with her professor. She offers her love to the lonely man, which embarrasses him. The professor rejects the young woman’s love and has her expelled from the university.

A parish priest, another incarnation of the hero, learns that he is the father of a teenage girl. He does not know how to cope with it. Orphaned by her mother, Magda lives in an orphanage and desperately needs her father. The man gives up the priesthood and accepts the child’s love.

A colonel lives with his wife, but their marriage has long been nothing but fiction. One day, he is visited by Tamara, who was once his great love. The colonel tries to rebuild his old relationship, but professional issues prevent him from any closer contact with the Russian woman and he cowardly rejects the chance of true love.

A prisoner and Kryśka accuse and blackmail each other, but they love each other in their own way. They cheat, but forgive as well. Despite their tumultuous relationship, the prisoner believes in Kryśka and accepts her love whatever the consequences.

All four characters face an investigator and must answer his questions about their lives and the choices they made.


A.W., www.portalfilmowy.pl