Farewells Explained

Farewells
Director:Wojciech Has
Starring:Tadeusz Janczar
Maria Wachowiak
Cinematography:Mieczysław Jahoda
Music:Lucjan Kaszycki
Distributor:Film Polski
Runtime:90 min
Language:Polish

Farewells (also titled Lydia Ate the Apple and Partings in the United States; original Polish title: Pożegnania) is a Polish film released in 1958 and directed by Wojciech Has. Taking place in Poland during the late 1930s and early 1940s, this melancholy film evokes the insecurity and despair pervading Poland at the time.

Premise

The story begins immediately before World War II and centers on Pawel (Tadeusz Janczar), a member of a conservative, bourgeois family, and his love for the thoroughly jaded Lidka (Maria Wachowiak), a dancer. The mismatched pair finds momentary happiness during a trip to the countryside, however social conventions and the lovers' inability to defy them force Pawel and Lidka to part. The times change, war breaks out and ends; Pawel suffers at Auschwitz concentration camp and Lidka marries his cousin. Years later the two rediscover each other much changed, and find that they may still have the capacity for love.

Cast

Production

The film is an adaptation of a lyrical and reflective novel by Stanisław Dygat,[1] with a screenplay written by Dygat himself and Has.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Swidzinski . W. . 2007 . Farewells - What does Wojciech J. Has did Adieu to? . Kwartalnik Filmowy . PL . 57-58 . 0452-9502.