THE SALT OF THE BLACK EARTH [1969]
year:
- 1969
release date:
- 6 III 1970
runtime:
- 98 min
directed by:
- Kazimierz Kutz
written by:
- Kazimierz Kutz
director of photography:
- Wiesław Zdort
cast:
- Olgierd Łukaszewicz [Gabriel Basista], Jan Englert [Erwin Maliniok], Jerzy Bińczycki [Bernard Basista], Jerzy Cnota [Euzebin Basista], Wiesław Dymny [Franek Basista], Bernard Krawczyk [Dominik Basista], Andrzej Wilk [Alojz Basista], Antoni Zwyrtek [father of the Basistas], Izabella Kozłowska [a nurse], Jerzy Łukaszewicz [Cyryl Basista], Daniel Olbrychski [Lt. Stefan Sowiński], Tadeusz Madeja [Wiktor], Henryk Maruszczyk [Emil], Halina Bełkowska [mother of the Basistas], Zygmunt Biernat [an insurgent]
edited by:
- Irena Choryńska
music by:
- Wojciech Kilar
production design:
- Bolesław Kamykowski
produced by:
- Zespół Filmowy „Wektor”
executive producer:
- Tadeusz Baljon
awards:
-
• Lubusz Film Summer Łagów 1970: Grand Prix Golden Grape, best screenplay award, best stage design award, best cinematography award
• State Award of the 1st degree 1970 for Kazimierz Kutz
• MSMiF Grenoble (France) 1971: Grand Prix
About the film
A ballad-like, lyrical image of Silesia that challenges more stereotypical portrayals. The film is steeped in Silesian folklore and landscape, with expressive portraits of folk heroes.
Silesia, 1920. The third Silesian Uprising breaks out. The seven Basista brothers, under the leadership of the eldest, Erwin, set out to fight for the Polish cause in their hometown. The youngest, Gabriel, in a captured German’s uniform, enters the German controlled settlement and falls in love with a beautiful German nurse. During the fighting, Lieutenant Sowiński supports the insurgents. Old Basista is killed during a German attack. Many insurgents are killed and the detachment retreats towards the border. The wounded Gabriel is carried across the border creek by girls. There, the four surviving brothers meet.
Jan Słodowski, Leksykon polskich filmów fabularnych, Warszawa 1996
