MAN OF MARBLE

Cast
Jerzy Radziwiłowicz (Mateusz Birkut and Maciek Tomczyk, Mateusz’s son), Krystyna Janda (Agnieszka), Tadeusz Łomnicki (director Jerzy Burski), Jacek Łomnicki (director Jerzy Burski – in 50s), Michał Tarkowski (Wincenty Witek), Piotr Cieślak (Michalak)

In 1976, Agnieszka, a young woman in Krakow is making her diploma film, which examines the life of a 1950’s bricklayer, Birkut, who was briefly made into a proletarian hero. She looks at how his celebrity was created, and how he was later mercilessly brought down. She gets hold of outtakes and censored footage and interviews the man’s friends, ex-wife, and the filmmaker who made him a hero. In researching her portrait of Birkut emerges, Agnieszka learns the truth about his life and a more general and bitter truth about life in 1950’s Poland.

ANDRZEJ WAJDA
Born in 1926 in Suwałki, died on October 9, 2016 in Warsaw. Director and cowriter. Studied Painting at the Fine Arts Academy in Krakow (1946-50), graduated from Film Directing at the Łódź Film School (1960). Head of “X” Film Studio (1972-1983), president of Polish Filmmakers’ Association (1973-1983), director of Teatr Powszechny in Warsaw (1989-1990), senator of Republic of Poland (1989-1991). Member of Institut de France – Academie des Beaux-Arts, BAFTA, European Film Academy and American Film Academy. Recipient of hundreds of film awards and awards for lifetime achievement. In 2000 he received an Oscar as the Honorary Award for five decades of extraordinary film direction. Awarded honorary degrees at numerous universities, including Washington, Bologna, Cracow, Warsaw, Moscow and Gdansk, as well as Fine Arts Academy in Warsaw, Łódź Film School and WGIK in Moscow. Honorary citizen of many Polish cities. Founder (2002) and lecturer of the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing.

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
2016 Afterimage (Powidoki)
2013 Walesa. Man of Hope (Wałęsa człowiek z nadziei)
2009 Sweet Rush (Tatarak)
2007 Katyń; Oscar nomination, Best Foreign Language ‘08
2002 The Revenge (Zemsta)
1999 Pan Tadeusz
1996 Miss Nobody (Panna Nikt)
1995 Holy Week (Wielki tydzień)
1990 Korczak
1985 A Chronicle of Amorous Accidents (Kronika wypadków miłosnych)
1982 Danton
1981 Man of Iron (Człowiek z żelaza); Grand Prix in Cannes ’81, Oscar nomination, Best Foreign Language ‘82
1979 The Conductor (Dyrygent); FIPRESCI Award in San Sebastian ’80
The Maids of Wilko (Panny z Wilka); Oscar nomination, Best Foreign Language ‘80
1978 Rough Treatment (Bez znieczulenia)
1976 Man of Marble (Człowiek z marmuru); FIPRESCI Award in Cannes ‘78
1975 The Promised Land (Ziemia obiecana); Oscar nomination, Best Foreign Film ’76, Gold Hugo at Chicago International Film Festival ’75, Gold Medal at Moscow Film Festival ’75, Grand Prize at Valladolid Film Festival ’75
1972 The Wedding (Wesele)
1970 Landscape After the Battle (Krajobraz po bitwie)
The Birch Wood (Brzezina)
1968 Everything For Sale (Wszystko na sprzedaż)
1965 Ashes (Popioły)
1959 Lotna
1958 Ashes and Diamonds (Popiół i diament); FIPRESCI Award in Venice ’59
1957 Canal (Kanał); Special Jury Award in Cannes ’57
1954 Generation (Pokolenie)