East of the West - Competition 2003 / Edi / Poland 2002
On the one hand, the plot presents a gloomy tale of people on the fringes of society who earn their living collecting trash. On the other, it tells of callous and cruel villains capable of anything. The guileless outcast Edi finds himself in their clutches. The best Polish film of last year, the FIPRESCI prize at the Berlin IFF 2003.
Edi takes care of Jureczek, who is a bit slow-witted, and both earn a living collecting scrap metal. They are homeless but are respected by those around them. Their conversations make sense. One evening at a pub they meet two brothers who sell alcohol and are known for their ruthless debt-collecting practices. After their parents’ death, the brothers were left to look after their 17-year-old sister. They jealously guard her from men and lock her up when they are away. Since Edi is decent and well-read (and indeed nothing much to look at) they hire him to tutor and guard her. One evening the girl gets the guileless Edi to leave her the key, and three months later she’s pregnant. The girl claims that Edi raped her. The brothers mutilate him, and even force the baby on him. In order to be able to take care of it, Edi and Jureczek leave for their relatives in the countryside. There Edi forms a loving paternal attachment to the child, but it’s not meant to be. The brothers show up with their sister, who has meanwhile married her boyfriend, and they take the kid away from Edi. He and Jureczek return to the city and to respectable living once again.
97 min / Color, 35 mm
Director Piotr Trzaskalski
/ Screenplay Piotr Trzaskalski, Wojciech Lepianka
/ Dir. of Photography Krzysztof Ptak
/ Music Wojciech Lemanski
/ Editor Cezary Kowalczuk
/ Producer Piotr Dzieciol
/ Production Opus Film
/ Cast Henryk Golebiewski, Jacek Braciak, Aleksandra Kisio, Jacek Lenartowicz, Grzegorz Stelmaszewski
/ Contact Opus Film
www: www.edifilm.com
Piotr Trzaskalski followed up cultural studies at the University of Lodz with studies in direction at Lodz’s Film School (PWSFTViT). He then obtained a scholarship to the Northern School of Film and Television at Leeds Metropolitan University in England. While enjoying his scholarship he made the drama Someone. He’s worked in television since 1992, shooting programs on art, documentaries and commercials. He also directs television programs. Edi (2002) is his feature debut. At the 27th Gdynia FF he was co-awarded the Special Jury Prize (with Marek Lechki for My Town). The camerawork (Krzysztof Ptak) and set design (Wojciech Źogala) also received awards.
Opus Film
Ul. Łąkowa 29, 90-554, Lodz
Poland
Phone: +48 42 634 55 00
Fax: +48 42 634 55 49
E-mail: [email protected]
Jolanta Galicka
Festival Consultant, Producer
Jacek Gawryszczak
Producer
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