Marcin Giżycki’s Top Ten

Marcin Giżycki was a figure of Renaissance talent. Art historian, critic, pedagogue, and author of many extremely absorbing books and documentaries, both animated and featured. Above all, he was an exceptional individual. He passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, on the 20th of October 2022. At that time, he was in the process of making a documentary about the history of animation, in which I had the privilege of participating.

I had the pleasure of enjoying his friendship for over forty years. Cinema brought us together, especially animated cinema, and music, specifically blues. We enjoyed immersing ourselves in those themes – not only the current but also the past, in their histories and prehistories.

For the 55th anniversary of Polish animation, celebrated in 2004, Marcin presented a selection of “Ten films that shook the world.” Twenty years after that event, and thus on the 75th anniversary, Roman Gutek, director of Timeless Film Festival Warsaw, suggested that I recall those ten films, as well as create my own list.

I accepted the proposal with great excitement, however, as I sat down to compile my “Ten films that…,” I realised that 80 percent, therefore as many as eight titles, overlapped with Marcin’s nominations. Film and music were our initial connection, however essentially, we shared a taste, a similar perspective. Consequently, I created “Jerzy Armata’s Ten,” which I strongly believe would also, or at least for the most part, be Marcin’s “Second Ten.”

Jerzy Armata

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