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Unsentimental Encounters: New Polish Cinema

In spring 2015, the film nation Poland, celebrated its greatest triumph: the Oscar for best foreign language film went to IDA by Pawel Pawlikowski. With the law on film financing (2005) and the Polish Institute of Film Art (PISF), Polish films have developed into the most exciting in Europe. Pawlikowski stated in his Oscar speech: “You are what I love about Poland: Resilient, courageous, brave and funny.” The anniversary of “25 years of German-Polish Partnership Agreement” gives us an opportunity to visit the independent, free Polish film – an era that is coming to a close. Because following the victory of the national conservative PiS, “Polish culture should serve to strengthen patriotic views,” maintains Poland`s Prime Minister, Beata Szydło. She does not like IDA: “The film has not advertised Poland particularly well, but rather paints a negative picture of it.” Her government will “make consistent efforts to ensure that public money will not be used to support cultural events that violate commonly accepted social values and norms.”

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