So, continuing on the subject of Westerplatte, I don’t know if you’ve heard about this new Polish movie “Tajemnica Westerplatte” (The Secret of Westerplatte). The movie is not even made yet, the script has barely been written, and it’s already a huge scandal in Poland. For those who don’t know, here’s a quick recap:
Paweł Chochlew is a relative newbie of a writer and director, he used to be an actor actually, and his first directing project was “Takie Życie” (That’s Life) in 2004 and, at least according to me, it was a total flop. The fact that it’s not even included in the International Movie Database seems to confirm my opinion.
Anyway, for his second directing project Mr. Chochlew decided to re-tell the story of Westerplatte. He also wrote the script and applied for funding from the government, which is normal for filmmakers in Poland. And it all went downhill from there.
The script was reviewed by historical experts and deemed “fictional”. And that’s just one of the mildest comments the experts hurled at it. Others said that the script was “anti-Polish”, that it “tarnished the image of the heroes of Westerplatte” and that it was simply “vulgar” and “demeaning”. And inaccurate from the historical perspective.
Now, Mr. Chochlew never claimed he was making a documentary. His film was meant as a work of fiction. So why all the commotion? In the script, the defenders of Westerplatte are depicted not as heroic saints as we’ve been always taught in school, but as dudes who are drinking, running around naked and generally behaving badly, to put it gently. And you simply can’t have national heroes doing such things, right? Because we all know that those brave Polish soldiers fighting a losing battle still had the disposition of clean and pristine choir boys.
Mr. Chochlew was asked to revise the script and to make it conform with our long-standing idealized images of the battle. Otherwise there will be no film, he was told.
But as I read in “Dziennik Bałtycki” last week (link in Polish), now it turns out that the person who is protesting this project the loudest and accusing it of being “degrading” and “insulting” – Mariusz Wójtowicz-Podhorski has his own Westerplatte film in the works. But surely, this is just an awkward coincidence, right?
What troubles me here is not the nasty campaign to discredit Mr. Chochlew’s project, but the suggestion that he should self-censor its content. I thought that the days when artists, writers and directors were forced to comply with the officially sanctioned version of Polish history were long gone. I guess I was wrong.
photo of the war monument at Westerplatte: Wikipedia
9 Comments
Anna,
Sad to say but such things still happen hear in the United States.
Some subjects have become sacred cows.
It is not that people do not want the truth; it is that they want their version of the truth.
“the days when artists, writers and directors were forced to comply with the officially sanctioned version of Polish history” will be gone when a few generations pass… As someone’s noticed already, history is not a popular subject among youngsters and so when they become decision makers in the public arena, such censorship is likely to be a thing of the past – or am I a naive idealist?
Unfortunately, it seems that there’s still pressure to show history a certain way.
Having said that, Chochlew can still make his film, and show whatever he likes; that’s the big difference from the past. He’ll just have to do it without government money.
I’m sure plenty of subjects are still taboo, as well: can you imagine any [non-Iranian] government funding a “fictional” film about the Holocaust that shows death camp inmates as “dudes who are drinking, running around naked and generally behaving badly”? Or any Western government contributing funds to a film that advocates a racist, sexist, fascist, or any other “incorrect” world-view?
I can’t.
Censorship is dead. Long live censorship… ?
I think you are right, Anna, in that there are some topics or points of view which are simply taboo in Poland. What’s worse is when concentrated groups or even private individuals use these “hot buttons” to push forward their own interests, e.g. the conflict of interest about the vocal critic who himself is making a film about Westerplatte.
This reminds me of a snippet of an interview I once saw on TV where the person being interviewed, a well known journalist was asked the question, “What are the differences in being a journalist in a free Poland compare to being one in a censored Poland?”
The journalist, without hesitation, responded, “We still live in a censored Poland”.
Hi guys!
I agree with all of you. There is censorship in PL, just like there is censorship in the US (or elsewhere for that matter), even though we like to pretend otherwise. Some topics are taboo and will be forever, which I think is due to our Polish mentality more than to anything else. It’s a historical fact that Maj. Sucharski was no angel, yet to present him as anything but, is short of blasphemy. Because we mustn’t speak ill of our heroes, right?
I’m certain the same thing will happen with Lech Wałęsa when he dies. Let’s see how soon after his death his beatification process will begin at the Vatican. LOL!
It’s not all about censorship though. The remaining question is what projects should the state sponsor. Well, to be honest, it is also a question of art in general. I once read about a Russian guy who rewrote the Book of Genesis or tried to do it, I can’t remember now. As funny as it seems no one sane would try to censor it, and, believe me, even in Poland. Yes, I know, this is too far-fetched and I am digressing carelessly. The thing is that there are many people doing modest things in cinema which are really valuable especially younger generation you await so much to get rid of taboo (let alone post-memory lurking behind every corner of public space, this you will never get rid of unless you turn it into a dream, in every single case, even in Martinique). Anyway, I am not here to support censorship. The question is should the state sponsor (sic!) the movie just for the sake of myth unravelling. We are talking about art development, and in this case quite specific form of art that is cinema.
Milan Kundera in his essay titled “Le rideau” wrote some interesting remarks on the art of Novel. First of all it must strike with its genius, the unique architecture of composition etc. I am not an expert on cinema (I just wrote what I heard from experts – there is more valuable stuff to be sponsored), and I am not the one to define what is the unique quality so much seeked in this form of art. However my humble impression is that when you try to break a taboo you’d better check if it is not compulsive or simply boring. The concept of the movie discussed here seems so.
Yes Marcin, I agree with you. But hypothetically speaking, if the guy somehow managed to secure private funds for the movie, do you think he’d be able to get the necessary permits to go on with the project? I think not. A pity, because it’s an artist’s job to break taboos and challenge censorship. After all, who else will have the balls (or the time) to do it?
personaly i think its sad that directors want to make scandalous movies just for the sake of attracting attention. i therefore support the censorship in this case.
It is not about censorship. This movie will contain scenes that will be disgraceful for Polish heroes. What would you say if anyone was showing you pissing in your own pants? “Wow, splendid idea” or “Don`t!”. Do you know what one of the producers said? He said: ” Soldier pee in his pants and the media claimed it is something bad. But it is normal at war. They were normal people. A soldier who pee, takes a rifle, attacks and is ready to die for his country. And that what heroism is.” You have to admit this is strange idea of heroism. The movie will also show Polish soldiers drunk and neaked. I belive this movie is for sexual minorities.
Sorry for my English