A Year of the Quiet Sun
Director | Krzysztof Zanussi |
Producer | Michael Bohme, Hartwig Schmidt, Michal Szczerbic, Regina Ziegler |
Writer | Krzysztof Zanussi |
Camera | Slawomir Idziak |
Editor | Marek Denys |
Sound | Wieslawa Dembinska |
Cast | Maja Komorowska, Scott Wilson, Hanna Skarzanka |
Original Title | ROK SPOKOJNEGO SLONCA |
Year | 1984 |
Length | 110 min |
Country | Poland/Germany/USA |
Section | Grand Love Affairs – Old Gold |
Screening | Saturday 9 November | 14:45 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag |
A sensual romantic drama in which love doesn’t need many words in order to be expressed. One of the most moving love stories in East European cinema. Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
Synopsis
In a devastated Polish territory, shortly after World War II, a middle-aged American soldier falls deeply in love with a poor widow. She lives with her ill elderly mother, while her only joy in life is painting and discovering beauty in the surrounding sad landscape. His desire is to take her to the United States and start a new life together. However, life has made other plans for them. The plot’s simplicity of this tenderly tragic and beautifully shot film strengthens the power of suggestion, while silently inspiring performances by leading actors bring it to the level of a masterpiece.
Director’s bio
The Polish director, screenwriter, diplomat and intellectual was born in Warsaw in 1939, and is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of our time. In 1966 he graduated in Lodz Film School, after which he directed many documentaries, feature and TV films in Poland and abroad. The scripts for the majority of his films are written by himself, which confirms him as a true auteur. Since 1978 he has also worked in theatre and opera. Zanussi has won many film awards from different festivals, such as Cannes, Venice, Chicago, Locarno, Mar del Plata, and Moscow.
Festivals & Awards (selection)
Venice International Film Festival, 1984 – Golden Lion, Pasinetti Award | Chicago International Film Festival, 1984 | Golden Globe Awards, 1984 – Nomination for Best Foreign Film