Screening of “The Saragossa Manuscript” with live music at The Polish NationalOpera

This is not the only film in which the music of this outstanding composer can be heard. His works have also been used by renowned directors such as William Friedkin in The Exorcist, Stanley Kubrick in The Shining, and Andrzej Wajda in Katyń. However, Has’s film remains the only feature-length film for which Penderecki – known for keeping a certain distance from film music – composed a complete original score from scratch. Notably, The Saragossa Manuscript is also a film very different in character from the large-scale productions mentioned above.

Has’s film, made in 1964 and based on the novel by Jan Potocki, is a masterpiece of surrealism and a cinematic labyrinth. Rich in fantasy, mystery, and stories within stories, The Saragossa Manuscript intertwines dream, reality, and philosophical reflection on human destiny. For decades it has fascinated audiences around the world and inspired many artists, including Luis Buñuel, Martin Scorsese, and David Lynch. To this day, it remains one of the most extraordinary examples of cinematic imagination.

Jacek Bakalarz (meakultura.pl):

Krzysztof Penderecki’s music for “The Saragossa Manuscript” is one of the most compelling examples of avant-garde in Polish film music. The composer abandoned traditional illustrative functions, creating a sonic structure that builds tension, unease, and a mystical atmosphere. His score combines experimentation with erudition, innovation with historical references, and sound with silence. It is a work that demands attentiveness and openness from the listener, yet rewards them with a unique aesthetic experience—an aural counterpart to Has’s cinematic labyrinth.

During the 27 April 2026 screening, the score will be performed live by:

• the Wrocław-based band Małe Instrumenty,
• the chamber orchestra of the Polish National Opera conducted by Katarzyna Tomala‑Jedynak,
• guitar parts performed by Michał Honisz and Szymon Witczyński,
• the orchestral and guitar arrangements were prepared by Tomasz Chmiel.

Duration: 3 h 6 min (Part 1 – 1 h 38 min, Part 2 – 1 h 28 min) + 20 min intermission.

The project was created as part of the National Cultural Programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, coordinated by the National Centre for Culture (Poland). The premiere screening of this version took place during the Krakow Film Music Festival in 2025.

Organizer: Timeless Film Foundation.

Co-Organizers: The Polish National Opera and National Centre for Culture.

Partner: Documentary and Feature Film Studio – copyright owner.

The project was created as part of the National Cultural Programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, coordinated by the National Centre for Culture (Poland). The premiere screening of this version took place during the Krakow Film Music Festival in 2025.

The festival is co-financed by the City of Warsaw, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and the Polish Film Institute.

The festival’s main partner is the National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute.

The festival is co-organized by the Documentary and Feature Film Studio and The Mazovia Institute of Culture.