Melodies That Comfort Wounds, Confusion, and Pain... Revisiting the Film Music of Kilar

Retrospective at Cinematheque Seoul Art Cinema Polish Film Festival
Screenings of 'Dracula', 'Portrait of a Lady', and 'The Year of the Quiet Sun'

Movie 'Dracula' Still Cut

A masterpiece series spotlighting Wojciech Kilar (1932?2013), the world-renowned film composer from Poland, is being held. Cinematheque Seoul Art Cinema, which has relocated to Gyeonghyang Art Hill, is hosting the 'Polish Film Festival - Wojciech Kilar Retrospective' from the 14th of this month to the 2nd of next month, in collaboration with the Embassy of Poland in Korea and the Adam Mickiewicz Cultural Center. Fifteen films featuring Kilar's delicate and elegant music will be showcased.

The screening lineup includes 'Giuseppe in Warsaw (1964)' directed by Stanisław Lenartowicz, 'Somersault (1965)' by Tadeusz Konwicki, 'The Structure of Crystal (1969)' and 'Year of the Quiet Sun (1984)' by Krzysztof Zanussi, 'Salt of the Black Earth (1969)' by Kazimierz Kutz, 'Jealousy and Medicine (1973)' by Janusz Majewski, 'The Promised Land (1975)', 'Chronicle of Love (1985)', 'Korczak (1990)', 'Pan Tadeusz (1999)', and 'Revenge (2002)' by Andrzej Wajda, and 'Waltz of Love (1976)' by Jerzy Hoffman. Also introduced are Francis Ford Coppola's 'Dracula (1992)', produced in Hollywood, USA, and Jane Campion's 'The Portrait of a Lady (1996)'.

Movie still cut from 'Geomeun Daeji-ui Sogeum' (Salt of the Black Earth)

Kilar gained international recognition as a musician in his twenties. In his forties, he served as the chairman of the Polish Composers' Association and was actively involved not only in music but also in policy fields. He began composing film music in the 1960s. Starting with Kazimierz Kutz's 'Nobody Called' he composed music for over 150 films in Poland and Hollywood.

The works introduced this time all feature protagonists who experience moral confusion and identity crises amid rapidly changing times. They suffer from not being able to find their place in the midst of war or in societies shattered by war. Kilar comforts their inner selves with delicate and sorrowful melodies. He also sonically embodies cruel fate with grandiose tunes. His music deepens the tragic tone of the films and lends psychological persuasiveness to the protagonists' decisions made at the end.

Movie still cut from 'Joyonghan Taeyang-ui Hae'

To aid audience understanding, Seoul Art Cinema invites music director Cho Young-wook, known for 'Oldboy (2003)' and 'Decision to Leave (2022)', for a discussion session. After the screenings, a detailed explanatory video by Polish film critic Kaja Klimk is also shown.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.