ROMANCE IN LIGHT Fryderyk Chopin And The Cinema
Thu Mar 4 / Sat Apr 10 / Sat May 8
In celebration of Chopin’s bicentenary, we offer a brief selection of works inspired by the life and work of one of the essential figures of western music. In addition to fiction films, we will be offering documentaries of fabled performances of Chopin’s music as well as experimental films that offer their own responses to the master’s music.
In this original take on Chopin’s last days by Polish-French auteur Andrzej Zulawski, the story revolves around the composer’s twilight summer days in Nohant, in France. The once-passionate love between Chopin (played by pianist Janusz Olejniczak) and George Sand (Marie-France Pisier) gradually deteriorates, and along with it, the great composer’s creative powers fade. Ultimately, he puts to paper his very last note—which George Sand poetically calls la note bleue.
Blue Note/ La Note bleue / Blekitna nuta
Andrzej Zulawski, 1991, France/Germany; 135m
PAST PROGRAM
The Strange Case of Delphina Potocka (The Mystery of Chopin)
Tony Palmer, 1999, UK; 109m
Thursday, March 4 at 3:3:30pm
After World War II, Paulina Czernicka informed the Polish government of the existence of love letters between Chopin and (the married) Countess Delphina Potocka—information that, while never proven, was suppressed for fear of tarnishing Chopin’s name. This revealing and rarely screened drama explores the story in a series of parallel scenes from 1945 and 1845. The composer’s music is brought to life by the gifted Russian pianist Valentina Igoshina. British music-film veteran Tony Palmer directed the film, shooting on location in Scotland, Spain, France and the Ukraine.
SATURDAY, APRIL 10 AT 2PM Experimental Film Program
TRT: 91m
A selection of Chopin-inspired works to dazzle the eye and ear, including “the jewel of Polish experimental cinema” Color Studies of Chopin, a phantasmagoric music video by Oscar-winner Zbigniew Rybczyński, interpretations by Polish jazz masters, animation, and more.
Color Studies of Chopin Eugeniusz Cękalski, 1937, Poland; 11m
The Orchestra Zbigniew Rybczyński, 1990, USA/France/Japan; 57m
