15-09-2008

Gdynia Polish Film Festival Competition Spotlight: Before Twilight

By Krzysztof Kwiatkowski
    Another entry built on the theme of theatre productions, Before Twilight tells a story of elderly actors who stage Goethe's Faustus at a nursing home.

    The filmmakers describe the film as a "heart-warming piece, full of humour and praising the joy of life".

    Active ImageThe film was produced by Rabarbar Film Studio, in cooperation with Polish Film Institute, TVP film agency, Toya Studios and Art. House Foundation. The overall budget was nearly 3.7 million zlotys, with 1.8 million coming from the PFI subsidies. The film was shot on location in a nursing home - the legendary Dom Aktora Weterana (Veteran Actor's Home) in Skolimow. The cast includes the top Polish actors of the older generation (Jan Nowicki, Danuta Szaflarska, Beata Tyszkiewicz, Irena Kwiatkowska) Active Imageas well as rising stars of the Polish cinema, such as Antoni Pawlicki, known for Retrieval by Sławomir Fabicki, candidate for an Oscar in 2006, and Sonia Bohosiewicz.

    Before Twilight is the feature debut of documentary filmmaker and cinematographer Jacek Blawut. His documentary awards include the FIPRESCI and the Von Sternberg award at the Manheim festival, as well as a Special Jury Mention in San Sebastian for The Abnormal and the Grand Prix in Toronto for I Had a Friend. He was also honoured with numerous awards at Polish festivals in Krakow, Gdansk, Lagowo and Kolobrzeg.

    Directing: Jacek Bławut
    Screenplay: Jacek Bławut, Jacek Piotr Bławut, Stanisław Józefowicz
    Cinematography: Wojciech Staroń
    Music: Tomasz Stroynowski
    Art direction: Jacek Turewicz
    Sound: Tomasz Wieczorek
    Film editing: Jarosław Kamiński, Jacek Bławut
    Costume Design: Justyna Pytko
    Production Manager: Ewa Jastrzębska
    Production: Studio Filmowe Rabarbar
    Producer: Anna Bławut-Mazurkiewicz
    Co-producers: Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej, TVP Agencja Filmowa, Toya Studios
    Executive Producer: Studio Filmowe Rabarbar
    Country & year of production: Poland 2008
    Cast:
    Jan Nowicki
    Beata Tyszkiewicz
    Lech Gwit
    Nina Andrycz
    Irena Kwiatkowska
    Roman Kłosowski
    Danuta Szaflarska

    Studio Filmowe Rabarbar

    Ul. J. Babickiego 4/69B

    94-056 Łódź

    Tel./fax. +48 42 252 19 77

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