Bread and Salt
dir. DAMIAN KOCUR
DUTCH PREMIERE
While bread and salt are a sign of hospitality in his culture, Damian Kocur focuses his lens on the less welcoming aspects of Poland in this feature film. Venice winner Bread and Salt shows the tension that lies just below the surface of provincial town life.
Tymek, a young pianist at the Warsaw Music Academy, returns to his provincial hometown for the summer holidays. In a place where it feels like time stands still, Tymek spends his time at a kebab shop where other youths hang out. But he sees there is a growing conflict between the Arab workers at the kebab shop and the local boys – a conflict that will have tragic consequences. Subtle, convincing acting of young performers, strong direction, and suitably created visual style make this story, inspired by true events, a memorable cinematic experience.
SHOWTIMES
Friday, 24 November – 16:45
Sunday, 26 November – 14:25
CHLEB I SOL | 2022 | 100 min | Poland
| PRODUCTION | Jacek Bromski, Ewa Jastrzebska, Jerzy Kapuscinski – Munk Studio; Canal+ Poland, Silesia Film Fund, KIVI, King House Michal Sadowski, EXA Studio |
| CAST | Tymoteusz Bies, Jacek Bies, Dawid Piejko, Nikola Raczko |
| SCREENPLAY | Damian Kocur |
| CINEMATOGRAPHY | Tomasz Wozniczka |
| EDITING | Alan Zejer |
| LANGUAGE | Polish |
| SUBTITLES | English |
FESTIVALS & AWARDS (SELECTION)
Venice FF, 2022 – Orizzonti Special Jury Prize | Antalya Golden Orange FF, 2022 – Best Director | Polish FF, 2022 – Journalist Award, Don Kichot Award, Youth Jury Award | Cottbus FF, 2022 – Best Director, Dialog Award | Crossing Europe FF Linz, 2023 – Best Fiction Film | Gijon IFF, 2023 – Youth Jury Award | Cairo IFF, 2023 – Bronz Pyramid Award | Polish Film Awards, 2023 – Discovery of the Year
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
The film is inspired by the events that took place a couple of years ago in a small Polish town. An immigrant working in a bar stabbed a 20-something-year-old Pole to death. After the tragedy, the local community and the whole country became convinced that the murder was based on religious grounds. There were calls to boycott Arab restaurants, or even to kill Muslims. Poland experienced, or is still experiencing, a wave of attacks on places where immigrants work. But it was this little town that became a lens focusing on the current moods of people all over Europe.
DIRECTOR’S BIO
Damian Kocur is a director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. He is a graduate of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice and is currently a doctoral student at the Łódz Film School. His last short film Beyond the Day won, among others, an award for the Best Short Film at the Trieste Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival, and the Kraków Film Festival. Damian is also recognized as a commercial director. He has worked for clients such as Huawei, Nationale Nederlanden, Tymbark, Okocim, Smyk, Allegro, and more.