Man of Marble [Człowiek Z Marmuru] **** (1977, Krystyna Janda, Jerzy Radziwiłowicz, Tadeusz Łomnicki) – Classic Movie Review 12,059

Director Andrzej Wajda’s masterly 1978 investigation of Polish history takes the form of an inquiry conducted by an enthusiastic, dissident film-school graduate documentarist, Agnieszka (Krystyna Janda in her first role), into the life of a fictional heroic record-breaking bricklayer, Mateusz Birkut (Jerzy Radziwilowicz).

Man of Marble [Czlowiek Z Marmuru] is a complex assembly of stories told through interviews with the bricklayer’s family and contemporaries, as well as propagandist archive footage. It effectively intertwines political and personal history.

It is written by Aleksander Ścibor-Rylski.

It won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.

It is followed by Man of Iron (1981), in which Janda reprises her role as Agnieszka.

Andrzej Wajda (6 March 1926 – 9 October 2016).

Man of Marble [Człowiek Z Marmuru] is directed by Andrzej Wajda, runs 165 minutes, is made by Film Polski Film Agency, Zespól Filmowy ‘X’, is released by PRF, is written by Aleksander Ścibor-Rylski, is shot by Edward Klosínski, is produced by Andrzej Wajda, is scored by Andrzej Korzinski, and is designed by Allan Starski.

The cast are Jerzy Radziwiłowicz as Mateusz Birkut / Maciej Tomczyk, Krystyna Janda as Agnieszka, Tadeusz Łomnicki as Jerzy Burski, Jacek Łomnicki as Young Burski, Michał Tarkowski as Wincenty Witek, Piotr Cieślak as Michalak, Wiesław Wójcik as Jodła, Krystyna Zachwatowicz as Hanka, Magda Teresa Wójcik as Editor, Bogusław Sobczuk as TV Producer, Leonard Zajączkowski as cameraman Leonard Zajączkowski, Jacek Domański as Soundman, Irena Laskowska as Museum Employee, Zdzisław Kozień as Agnieszka’s Father, Wiesław Drzewicz as Hanka’s Husband, and Saskia Taylor as Hanka’s Daughter.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,059

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