Polish films featured at Greenpoint Film Festival

Area is second-largest Polish community in US

August 30, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

A still from “Mouse,” one of the English-language films featured at the Greenpoint Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Greenpoint Film Festival

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Greenpoint has definitely become one of the capitals of film showings in New York.

In June, while most of the Brooklyn Film Festival was viewable online, some films were shown in person at Windmill Studios on Kingsland Avenue in Greenpoint.

Now, the Greenpoint Film Festival is returning to the area with a drive-in edition this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Stuart Cinema and Café on West Street and Film Noir Cinema on Meserole Avenue. Last year, due to the COVID pandemic, the festival also held a drive-in edition at the parking lot at Meserole Avenue and Jewel Street.

This year, the festival is paying tribute to the neighborhood’s Polish-American community — the second largest in the U.S., right behind Chicago — with a special Polish-language film noir program on Saturday, Sept. 4, and Sunday, Sept. 5.

Among the seven Polish films being shown are:

“Republic of Children,” set in the winter of 1903, when characters pointed by Polish artist Jacek Malczewski escape from his paintings. Later, they join a second group of escapees — children from an orphanage that is scheduled to be destroyed to make room for a hydroelectric power station.
“The Agony,” about the passing of traditional Polish music, seen through the eyes of singer-instrumentalist Adam Strug.
“Beloved Neighbors,” about two married couples whose friendship falls apart when one of the women reveals that she has slept with the other woman’s husband. At the same time, they are beset by a serious financial crisis.
“Chopin, Caribbean Key,” tells the story of how Polish composer Frederick Chopin’s music was adopted by the Caribbean island of Curacao in the 19th century to the extent that the mazurka became Curacao’s national dance. The film revolves around Randal Corsen, a pianist from Curacao, who plays pieces inspired by Chopin but with local traditional instruments.

The English-language program consists of both feature-length and short films, and every showing consists of a mix of films. In general, the festival also contains guest speakers, performances and social-distanced gathering.

Among the feature films are “Mouse,” in which a lonely groundskeeper deals with the crushing guilt of a local murder; “Touch,” in which a married Caucasian western woman living in China begins an affair with a blind Chinese masseur; and “Once You Know,” a documentary in which director Emmanuel Cappellin travels around the world to meet five of the world’s leading climate scientists to discover the truth about climate change.

The festival is being held in partnership with Broadway Stages, the city’s largest soundstage company, which is providing solar power for the outdoor festival.

For more information, visit Greenpointfilmfestival.org.