Roman Gutek’s Top 10
Roman Gutek’s Top 10 Picks of Timeless Film Festival Warsaw – Festival Director’s Selection
1. Freaks, dir. Tod Browning
Made nearly a century ago, Freaks remains a truly unique film. A half-realistic, half-grotesque portrait of physically disabled circus performers, it stirred controversy for years while inspiring artists from surrealists to The Ramones, Jodorowsky, and David Lynch (The Elephant Man). Screening from a digitally restored copy.
screening: Monday, April 14, 7:15 PM (Muranów Zbyszek)
2. Children of Paradise, dir.: Marcela Carné
A film that portrays a world where love and art matter more than success or failure, where money is meaningless, and the passion for life blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Featuring unforgettable performances by Arletty, J.-L. Barrault, and P. Brasseur. Still considered the pinnacle of French cinema.
screening: Saturday, April 12, 3:00 PM (Muranów Zbyszek)
3. A Man Escaped, reż. Robert Bresson
More than any other filmmaker – except perhaps Yasujirō Ozu – Bresson had the ability to infuse everyday details with almost metaphysical meaning through cinematic language. A masterpiece.
screening: Sunday, April 13, 6:30 PM (Muranów Zbyszek)
4. Viridiana, dir. Luis Buñuel
One of Buñuel’s most significant works. Upon its release, the film was highly controversial and accused of blasphemy. Today, it may not seem quite so shocking to our secular, cynical eyes, but it still holds immense power and is absolutely worth seeing.
5. Army of Shadows, dir. Jean-Pierre Melville
Arguably one of the greatest films ever made about the French Resistance in WWII. Far from clichés, it tells the story of the “army of shadows” – brave individuals ready to sacrifice their lives, fully aware of the cost. Melville was revered by French New Wave directors as a true auteur.
screening: Saturday, April 12, 5:30 PM (Luna B)
6. Killing the Devil, dir. Ester Krumbachová
The only directorial work by the great Czech screenwriter and production designer, one of the key figures of the Czechoslovak New Wave. Krumbachová excels as director, writer, and costume designer. A beautifully crafted and witty film – smart and satisfyingly concise at just 77 minutes.
screening: Saturday, April 12, 3:30 PM (Ziemia Obiecana)
7. The Most Important Thing: Love, dir. Andrzej Żuławski
Dark, tangled, and overwhelming – but worth every minute. Romy Schneider was right to consider this her greatest performance.
screenings: Wednesday, April 9, 8:30 PM (Luna B), Friday, April 11, 2:00 PM (Luna B)
8. Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains The Same, dir. Peter Clifton, Joe Massot
A concert film featuring one of the most important – and my personal favorite – rock bands: Led Zeppelin. The footage was shot over three nights at Madison Square Garden during their 1973 tour. An intimate, personal journey with the band. Possibly the first cinema screening in Poland.
screening: Thursday, April 10, 8:30 PM (Ziemia Obiecana)
9. To Our Loves, dir. Maurice Pialat
Brilliant, raw performances from the entire cast, with Sandrine Bonnaire delivering one of the most extraordinary debuts in cinema history. To Our Loves is the kind of film that reaffirms your faith in cinema.
screening: Thursday, April 10, 6:00 PM (Muranów Gerard)
10. The Rebellion, dir. Michael Haneke
One of Haneke’s lesser-known works. Made for television, and thus rarely shown. Through its silent-film aesthetic, sepia tones, muted colors, and blend of realism and fantasy, The Rebellion – an adaptation of Joseph Roth’s 1924 expressionist novel – pays homage to the cinema of G. W. Pabst and F. W. Murnau.