The Maids of Wilko
Encyclopedia
The Maids of Wilko is a 1979
Polish
film directed by Andrzej Wajda
. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
. "Maids" is used in the sense of "maidens", hence another translation could be The Maidens of Wilko.
) returns to the family property (Wilko) where he'd spent his late teens/early twenties as a tutor of young sisters. Now they are all women - mostly wives and mothers. Wiktor discovers that Fela, once the closest to him, is now dead for some time and other sisters aren't too keen to talk about her and her grave is rather forgotten. He is also disappointed with how all the women have changed. Julia (Anna Seniuk
), now a mother of two, doesn't resemble his first object of love and desire she once was and doesn't show him an affection he might expected. Jola (Maja Komorowska
), seemingly unhappy in her marriage, chases him and makes fun of it, until he doesn't bring the painful memories of the past. Kazia (Krystyna Zachwatowicz
), a divorcee - thus treated like less worthy than others - is the most demanding partner of his intelectual reflections while Zosia (Stanisława Celińska) is - as always - distant and outspoken. That leaves him with Tunia (Christine Pascal
) who was only a child when he previously knew her but now resembles Fela. Wiktor spends time in Wilko but isn't able to see that his return restored once forgotten dreams and hopes of the sisters...
previously filmed another short story of Iwaszkiewicz, The Birch Wood in 1970 and would go to film yet another, Sweet Rush, in 2009. This particular film features impressive cast, very good (although non-original) score (music of Karol Szymanowski
, who was a friend and cousin of Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz) and is otherwise technically brilliant. It received some awards in Poland and was nominated for an Oscar. Much of this happened because of deliberately avoiding anything that would trigger censorship from the communist authorities that governed Poland at that time. It is quite possible that the whole production was the results of games of influence inside the government-controlled film monopoly in Poland. It appears that the director Andrzej Wajda
had built around himself enough buffer space to produce a clearly anti-communist film just two years later, Man of Iron
.
1979 in film
The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
Polish
Cinema of Poland
The history of cinema in Poland is almost as long as history of cinematography, and it has universal achievements, even though Polish movies tend to be less commercially available than movies from several other European nations....
film directed by Andrzej Wajda
Andrzej Wajda
Andrzej Wajda is a Polish film director. Recipient of an honorary Oscar, he is possibly the most prominent member of the unofficial "Polish Film School"...
. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
. "Maids" is used in the sense of "maidens", hence another translation could be The Maidens of Wilko.
Plot summary
At the age of 40, Wiktor Ruben (Daniel OlbrychskiDaniel Olbrychski
Daniel Olbrychski is a Polish actor best known for leading roles in several Andrzej Wajda movies and also known for playing the Russian defector and spymaster Vassily Orlov, alongside Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie in the movie Salt....
) returns to the family property (Wilko) where he'd spent his late teens/early twenties as a tutor of young sisters. Now they are all women - mostly wives and mothers. Wiktor discovers that Fela, once the closest to him, is now dead for some time and other sisters aren't too keen to talk about her and her grave is rather forgotten. He is also disappointed with how all the women have changed. Julia (Anna Seniuk
Anna Seniuk
Anna Seniuk is a Polish TV and theatre actress.After World War II, together with other Poles from Stanisławów, she was forced by the Soviet government to leave her hometown, settling in the town of Zator, near Oświęcim...
), now a mother of two, doesn't resemble his first object of love and desire she once was and doesn't show him an affection he might expected. Jola (Maja Komorowska
Maja Komorowska
Maja Komorowska is a Polish film actress. She has appeared in 35 films since 1970.-Selected filmography:* Family Life * A Woman's Decision * Budapest Tales * Spiral...
), seemingly unhappy in her marriage, chases him and makes fun of it, until he doesn't bring the painful memories of the past. Kazia (Krystyna Zachwatowicz
Krystyna Zachwatowicz
Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda , born Krystyna Zachwatowicz, is a Polish scenographer, costume designer and actress. She is a daughter of architect and restorer Jan Zachwatowicz and Maria Chodźko h. Kościesza, and wife of film director Andrzej Wajda. Member of the Polish Film Academy. She is a...
), a divorcee - thus treated like less worthy than others - is the most demanding partner of his intelectual reflections while Zosia (Stanisława Celińska) is - as always - distant and outspoken. That leaves him with Tunia (Christine Pascal
Christine Pascal
Christine Pascal was a French actress, writer and director.-Biography:Born in Lyon, Rhône, Pascal made her film debut at 21 in Michel Mitrani's Les Guichets du Louvre , and began an association with Bertrand Tavernier with her next film, L'Horloger de Saint-Paul...
) who was only a child when he previously knew her but now resembles Fela. Wiktor spends time in Wilko but isn't able to see that his return restored once forgotten dreams and hopes of the sisters...
Possible reasons for the critical recognition
The film is based on a popular short story written in the early 1930s by famous Polish poet Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz who even appears as himself near the end of the movie. Andrzej WajdaAndrzej Wajda
Andrzej Wajda is a Polish film director. Recipient of an honorary Oscar, he is possibly the most prominent member of the unofficial "Polish Film School"...
previously filmed another short story of Iwaszkiewicz, The Birch Wood in 1970 and would go to film yet another, Sweet Rush, in 2009. This particular film features impressive cast, very good (although non-original) score (music of Karol Szymanowski
Karol Szymanowski
Karol Maciej Szymanowski was a Polish composer and pianist.-Life:Szymanowski was born into a wealthy land-owning Polish gentry family in Tymoszówka, then in the Russian Empire, now in Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. He studied music privately with his father before going to Gustav Neuhaus'...
, who was a friend and cousin of Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz) and is otherwise technically brilliant. It received some awards in Poland and was nominated for an Oscar. Much of this happened because of deliberately avoiding anything that would trigger censorship from the communist authorities that governed Poland at that time. It is quite possible that the whole production was the results of games of influence inside the government-controlled film monopoly in Poland. It appears that the director Andrzej Wajda
Andrzej Wajda
Andrzej Wajda is a Polish film director. Recipient of an honorary Oscar, he is possibly the most prominent member of the unofficial "Polish Film School"...
had built around himself enough buffer space to produce a clearly anti-communist film just two years later, Man of Iron
Man of Iron
Man of Iron is a 1981 film directed by Andrzej Wajda. It depicts the Solidarity labour movement and its first success in persuading the Polish government to recognize the workers' right to an independent union....
.