Ręce do góry
Encyclopedia
Ręce do góry is a Polish drama film directed by Jerzy Skolimowski
. It is the fourth of a series of semi-autobiographical
films in which Skolimowski himself plays his alter ego
, Andrzej Leszczyc.
The film was originally made in 1967 in monochrome. In a twenty minute section (filmed in colour) added by Skolimowski in 1981 he explains how the original was withheld by Polish censors of the time, and that this was a principal cause of his leaving his country; however following liberalisation in Poland, he was invited to resuscitate it. The introduction includes , apart from some fictional apocalyptic passages, shots of Beirut
ruined by the civil wars of the 1970s, where Skolimowski is working as an actor on Volker Schloendorff's German film Die Fälschung (Circle of Deceit), and also shots of London
featuring demonstrations in favour of Solidarnosc, Speaker's Corner, and an exhibition of Skolimowski's own paintings. These sections include cameo roles by Bruno Ganz
, David Essex
, Mike Sarne
and others. Some of the music in this introduction is from the 1970 choral work Kosmogonia by the Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki
.
The original film is a surrealistic reunion of Leszczyc (who has apparently become a veterinary surgeon
) and some of his student colleagues. They refer to themselves by the makes of the cars they own - Leszczyc owns a Zastawa
, one owns a Wartburg, the others own more upmarket models such as an Opel Rekord
or the Alfa Romeo
owned by the unhappily married couple. Supposedly taking speed (although it is later revealed the pills are a placebo
), and carousing in the cattle truck of a freight train, the group offers various satirical sidelights on Polish society of the 1960s. The characters also reflect that the truck may have been one of those in which the former generation were transported during World War II
to the Nazi death camps.
The final credits show the actors as they are in 1981, with the exception of Bogumil Kobiela
,who died in 1969.
The film was screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival
.
Jerzy Skolimowski
Jerzy Skolimowski is a Polish film director, screenwriter, dramatist and actor. A graduate of the prestigious National Film School in Łódź, Skolimowski has directed more than twenty films since his 1960 début Oko wykol...
. It is the fourth of a series of semi-autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
films in which Skolimowski himself plays his alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
, Andrzej Leszczyc.
The film was originally made in 1967 in monochrome. In a twenty minute section (filmed in colour) added by Skolimowski in 1981 he explains how the original was withheld by Polish censors of the time, and that this was a principal cause of his leaving his country; however following liberalisation in Poland, he was invited to resuscitate it. The introduction includes , apart from some fictional apocalyptic passages, shots of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
ruined by the civil wars of the 1970s, where Skolimowski is working as an actor on Volker Schloendorff's German film Die Fälschung (Circle of Deceit), and also shots of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
featuring demonstrations in favour of Solidarnosc, Speaker's Corner, and an exhibition of Skolimowski's own paintings. These sections include cameo roles by Bruno Ganz
Bruno Ganz
Bruno Ganz is a Swiss actor, known for his roles as Damiel in Wings of Desire and Adolf Hitler in Downfall.- Early life :Bruno Ganz was born in Zürich to a Swiss mechanic father and a northern Italian mother. He had decided to pursue an acting career by the time he entered university...
, David Essex
David Essex
David Essex OBE is an English musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Since the 1970s, Essex has attained nineteen Top 40 singles in the UK , and sixteen Top 40 albums...
, Mike Sarne
Mike Sarne
Mike Sarne is a British actor, director and former pop singer.Sarne was born Michael Scheuer at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London. Active in the 1960s as singer, he is best known for his 1962 UK comedy number one hit, "Come Outside"...
and others. Some of the music in this introduction is from the 1970 choral work Kosmogonia by the Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki , born November 23, 1933 in Dębica) is a Polish composer and conductor. His 1960 avant-garde Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima for string orchestra brought him to international attention, and this success was followed by acclaim for his choral St. Luke Passion. Both these...
.
The original film is a surrealistic reunion of Leszczyc (who has apparently become a veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
) and some of his student colleagues. They refer to themselves by the makes of the cars they own - Leszczyc owns a Zastawa
Zastawa
Zastawa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Tychowo, within Białogard County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-western Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Tychowo, south-east of Białogard, and north-east of the regional capital Szczecin.Before 1945 the area was...
, one owns a Wartburg, the others own more upmarket models such as an Opel Rekord
Opel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
or the Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
owned by the unhappily married couple. Supposedly taking speed (although it is later revealed the pills are a placebo
Placebo
A placebo is a simulated or otherwise medically ineffectual treatment for a disease or other medical condition intended to deceive the recipient...
), and carousing in the cattle truck of a freight train, the group offers various satirical sidelights on Polish society of the 1960s. The characters also reflect that the truck may have been one of those in which the former generation were transported during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
to the Nazi death camps.
The final credits show the actors as they are in 1981, with the exception of Bogumil Kobiela
Bogumil Kobiela
Bogumił Kobiela was a Polish film actor. He appeared in 35 films between 1953 and 1969.He suffered serious injuries in a car crash on 2 July 1969 in Buszkowo...
,who died in 1969.
The film was screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival
1981 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Jacques Deray *Ellen Burstyn *Jean-Claude Carrière *Robert Chazal *Attilio D'Onofrio *Christian Defaye *Carlos Diegues *Antonio Gala...
.
Cast
- Jerzy Skolimowski - Andrzej Leszczyc ('Zastava')
- Joanna Szczerbic - 'Alfa'
- Tadeusz LomnickiTadeusz LomnickiTadeusz Łomnicki was a Polish actor, one of the most notable stage and film artists of his time in Poland. He is remembered mostly for his roles in comedies and dramas, as well as for the role of Kordian in Juliusz Słowacki's play of the same title...
- 'Opel Rekord' - Adam HanuszkiewiczAdam HanuszkiewiczAdam Hanuszkiewicz is a Polish actor and theatre director.-External links:* http://www.culture.pl/pl/culture/artykuly/os_hanuszkiewicz_adam...
- 'Romeo' - Bogumil Kobiela - 'Wartburg'