Body

Body

Małgorzata Szumowska

»The body can impose terrible limits, it can become an obsession. To all intents and purposes, everything might be related to the body. Thus, we search for something that is aside from it, we miss this thing that is outside of it.«
– Małgorzata Szumowska

Seeing dead bodies is part of Janusz’s everyday routine. As a coroner, he investigates precisely. At the scene of the crime, he analyses every detail. In dealing with his anorexic daughter Olga and her suicidal thoughts, however, Janusz is helpless, as if in a daze. The girl is still mourning the death of her mother and seemingly wants her own body to wither away. Because Janusz does not know how to help his daughter, he has her admitted to a clinic where we meet Anna, a psychiatrist. Anna lost her baby some years ago and has since then lived alone with her big dog and a curious penchant for the esoteric. Three persons who have each lost a loved one – three radically different approaches to body and mind. Anna’s belief in the incorporeal is not entirely dissimilar to Olga’s desire for a disembodied spirit. Janusz, on other hand, believes in nothing.

Małgorzata Szumowska works here with elements of black comedy to address the difficulty of processing loss of loved ones. She has filmed this serious topic in quiet, unhurried images without pathos – but also not without quirky and thoughtful humour.

In cooperation with Polnisches Institut Düsseldorf.


Awards for ›Body‹
Silberner Bär Regie Berlinale 2015

Director

Małgorzata Szumowska

Script

Małgorzata Szumowska, Michael Englert

Cinematography

Michael Englert

Editing

Jacek Drosio

Sound

Marcin Jachyra

Cast

Janusz Gajos, Maja Ostaszewska, Justyna Suwała, Ewa Dałkowska, Adam Woronowicz

Production

NOWHERE, Jacek Drosio, Małgorzata Szumowska, Michai Englert, D35, Marcin Kryjom, Kino Swiat, Marcin Piasecki, Mazowiecki Fundusz Filmowy, Anna Kielan, Lambros Ziotas

Contact

memento films international

Port

Małgorzata Szumowska

Małgorzata Szumowska now rates as one of the most prominent filmmakers in Poland. She has won numerous international awards, including the RWE Film Award 2013 in Dortmund, the Teddy Award for In the Name of… and the Silver Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival for 33 Scenes from Life. Premiered in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival 2015, Body was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Director.


Films by Małgorzata Szumowska (Selection)
W imie… 2013 | Elles 2011 | 33 szeny z zycia 2008 | Solidarnosc, Solidarnosc 2005 | Ono 2004 | Szczesliwy czlowiek 2000 | Cisza 1998