IMPERATIVE
IMPERATYW
1982,
96 min., West Germany, France in English
DIRECTION:
Krzysztof Zanussi
SCRIPT:
Krzysztof Zanussi
CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Slawmoir Idziak
MUSIC:
Wojciech
Kilar
ART DIRECTION:
Carl Heinz Boehm
EDITING:
SOUND:
PRODUCER:
Ulrich Nagel
PRODUCED BY:
Telefilm
Saar, Film Moliere
CAST: Robert Powell (Augustin), Brigitte Fossey
(Yvonne), Sigfrit Steiner (Professor), Zbigniew Zapasiewicz
(Psychiatrist), Jerzy Binczycki (Orthodox Preist), Leslie
Caron (Mother)
The
scene is a small university town in West Germany where
Augustin, a young mathematics professor, awakens before
dawn. He is not thinking of Yvonne, lying at his side,
but of such things as God, free will, death. In a half-demented
way he pursues a quest for understanding as if at some
moment - he knows not when - the Truth will be revealed
to him. He has taken as his spiritual guide an older
professor, a Russian who is a devout Orthodox Christian,
and after visiting him Augustin proceeds to an Orthodox
priest, a parson with few parishioners. The younger
man asks, ''Does serving God in an empty church make
sense?'' To which the priest answers calmly, yes. Perhaps
out of envy of the priest's profound tranquility, the
young mathematics professor, in an attack of madness,
desecrates the church.
Krzysztof
Zanussi
Born
in 1939 in Warsaw. Film and opera director, screen writter,
film executive. Studied physics at the University of
Warsaw (1955-1959) and philosophy at the Jagielonian
University in Cracow (1959-1963). Graduated from Film
Directing Dept. at the State Academy of Film and Theatre
in Lodz (1966). Made his first film in Amateur Film
Club of Warsaw University in the 50's. Since 1966 he
directed many documentary films, features for cinema
and TV, both in Poland and abroad. He writes and co-writes
scripts for his own films (3 volumes were published
in Poland). In 1974-81 he was Vice-Chairman of the Association
of Polish Filmmakers. From 1979 he is director of "TOR"
Film Studio. Since 1978, also stage and opera director.
President of FERA (1990-1992). His diploma etude The
Death of a Provincial (¦mierć prowincjała, 1966) won
him many awards including Venice Lions. Life achievement
awards: Donatello Prize, Italy and Golden Hugo, Chicago.
Filmography:
| 1967 |
Face
to Face (Twarza w twarz), TV; |
| 1968 |
The
Passing Mark (Zaliczenie), TV; |
| 1969 |
The
Structure of Crystal (Struktura krysztalu),
awards in Mar de Plata Valladolid, Panama, Colombo,
and the "Warsaw Mermaid" Award '70;
|
| 1971 |
Family
Life (Zycie rodzinne), award in Chicago
'72;
The Role (Rola), TV, Germany;
Behind the Wall (Za sciana), TV,
award in San Remo '71 and RTV Award '72; |
| 1972 |
Hypothesis
(Hipoteza); |
| 1973 |
Illumination
(Illuminacja), Golden Leopard in Locarno, awards
in Lagów, Gdansk and the "Warsaw Mermaid"
Award '74; Figueira da Foz '95; The Catamount Killing,
USA-Germany;
|
| 1974 |
Quarterly
Balance (Bilans kwartalny), award in Berlin,
'76; |
| 1975 |
Night
Dty (Nocna sluzba), TV, Germany, co-sc.
And co-dir. Edward Zebrowski; |
| 1976 |
Camouflage
(Barwy ochronne), awards in Gdanski and Teheran,
'77;
Anatomy Lesson (Lekcja anatomii),
TV, Germany;
|
| 1978 |
Spiral
(Spirala), award in Panama, '79; |
| 1979 |
Ways
in the Night (Droga noca), TV, Germany-France; |
| 1980 |
The
Constant Factor (Constant), Best Director
award – Cannes '80, Gdansk '80, Gdansk '80 Panama
'81;
The Contract (Kontrakt), award
in Venice '80;
|
| 1981 |
From
a Far Country: Pope John Paul II (Z dalekiego
kraju; Jan Pawel II). Italy-Great Britain;
The Temptation (Pokuszenie), TV,
Germany-Switzerland;
|
| 1982 |
Unapproachable
(Niedostepna), TV Germany;
Imperative (Imperatyw), Germany-France,
award in Venice '82;
|
| 1984 |
The
Blueebearded (Sinobrody), TV Germany-Switzerland;
The Year of the Quiet Sun (Rok
spokojnego slonca), Poland-Germany-USA, Golden Lion
award in Venice, '84, Golden Globe Nomination;
|
| 1985 |
The
Power of Evil (Paradygmat), France-Italy-Germany; |
| 1987 |
The
Time That Passed (Czas który minal), TV,
Germany; |
| 1988 |
Wherever
You Are (Gdzieskolwiek jest, jeslis jest…),
Poland-Germany, award in Montreal '90; |
| 1989 |
Inventory
(Stan posiadania), Poland-Germany; Grand Prix in
Strasbourg, '90 and award in Moscow '90;
Napoleon, one ep. In the series, France;
|
| 1990 |
Long
Conversation With a Bird (Dluga rozmowa
z ptakiem), Germany-Great Britain; |
| 1991 |
Life
For a Life (Zycie za zycie), Poland-Germany; |
| 1992 |
The
Silent Touch (Dotknieci reki), Poland-Denmark-Great
Britain, award for the best actor in Tokyo, '92;
Conversation With Krzysztof Zaussi
(Rozmowa z Krzysztofem Zanussim), documentary;
|
| 1995 |
In
Full Gallop (Cwal), main award (ex-aequo)
in Gdynia '96;
A Women's Business (Damski interes),
TV;
|
| 1996 |
Deceptive
Charm (Urok wszeteczny), TV;
Little Faith (Slaba wiara), TV;
|
| 1997 |
Our
God's Brother (Brat naszego Boga), Italy-Germany-Poland;
Heart Is Singing (Dusza spiewa),
TV;
The Last Disc (Ostatni krag), TV;
|
| 1999 |
Blachbird
(Skowronek), TV; |
| 2000 |
Hidden
Treasures (Skarby ukryte), TV;
Life As Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease
(Zycie jako smiertelna choroba przenoszona droga
plciowa), Grand Prix in Moscow 2000, and Golden
Lions in Gdynia 2000, Golden Teeth Award at the
PFFA in Chicago;
|
| 2002 |
Suplement |
2005 |
Persona Non Grata |
| 2007 |
Black
Sun (Czarne slonce) |
Saturday,
November 3, 2007 at 6:00 pm. (SAM)
|
