Reviewed by Vittorio Carli for Reel Movie Critic
Cast
Krzysztof Siwczyk Rafal Wojaczek
Domininka Ostalowska Mala
Directed by Lech Majewski. A biopic. unrated. Touchstone Pictures. Running time: 89 minutes. In Polish with English sub-titles.
“Wojaczek (1999)” is an irreverent and wickedly funny film that can be roughly classified as an absurdist biopic. It will be play at the Gene Siskel Center on Saturday September 29 at 6:00 p.m. and Thursday October 4 at 8:15 p.m.
It’s part of “Landscape of Dreams,” a series spotlighting the cinematic works of the inventive poet/painter/film maker/producer, Lech Majewski . The series will be running at the Gene Siskel Center from September 8 through October 4.
In the US, Majewski is best known for writing the screenplay for Julian Schnabel’s visually arresting art biopic, “Basquait.” But he also made his own series of austere, abstract, and highly idiosyncratic films such as The Knight (1980), Angelus (2000), and Glass Lips (2007), all of which will be screened this month (“Glass Lips” is so strange that it’s worthy of Cocteau) .
Lech Majewski himself will be present for a discussion with the audience after the Sept. 29 screening of “Wojaczek.”
“Wojaczek” has some of the most artful black and white photography since “The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001),” and the abrupt transition shots are often accompanied by loud booming noises which serve to decenter the viewer even more than the story.
“Wojacek” is about a mentally unstable and self destructive poet. The film is based on the life of Rafal Wojaczek, the great Polish poet who took his own life in 1971 at the age of 26. Wojaczek inspired future generations of Polish poets who struggled against the shackles of communism.
Interestingly enough, instead of using an experienced actor, the film stars a modern poet, Kryzystof Siwczyk, who is utterly convincing in the title role. In his debut, he even managed to get nominated for best actor at the European film awards.
Rafal Wojaczek, is depicted as an iconoclastic rebel in the film. When he isn’t writing great poetry or making profound statements, he is creating chaos or trying to kill himself.
The only three people who seem to be able to tolerate any prolonged exposure to him are Mala, a caring nurse and Wiktor, an old drunk.
In a very early scene, Rafal gets caught by a family member with his head in the oven-trying to kill himself in a Sylvia Plath like manner. His sense of humor is also morbid, and he tells a grave digger, “Bury me. I’m dead already.”
The utterly spontaneous Rafal does anything he wants at all times– like having passionate sex standing up with his nurse girlfriend, Mala, in the hospital. This happens right after she berates him for not going to church with her.
Rafal’s erratic behavior seems to be in part a response to communist oppression and repression, and there is some sly political commentary in the film. At one point, we see a sign which reads “The Party Steers All Energy,” and the film jumps to an ironically placed scene with a couple pushing a car.
The make- it-up-as-you-go-along aesthetic and the grainy look of the film reminded me of Vincent Gallo’s works, but “Wojaczek” has a decidedly original vision. In today’s world of cookie cutter films, it’s increasingly rare to see a film that is so startlingly unconventional and boldly uncommercial.
