1950 Medrzechow, Poland
Names: Jerzy and Alicja Zielonka
Born: 1934, 1942
Town: Medrzechow
Interviewed on: 9/17/19
By: Maciej Zielonka
Jerzy:
Our first experiences with film were thanks to a “traveling cinema” that would come to our town of Medrzechow from the neighboring town of Boleslaw. They would set up and project their movies in the local Folk Home. The operator would bring the equipment on a horse cart, and set up at the entrance of a long hall. A thick tube of light shone over people’s heads through the darkness onto a temporary screen—curious and excited people who for the first time in their lives eagerly awaited the movie and looked around the hall to see their friends.
Everything shown was filled with propaganda of the successes that the Communist Party had allegedly achieved thanks to the backing of the Soviet Union. But this propaganda was not very close to reality. The reality was apparent to everyone, but speaking of it aloud was a punishable offense. People would learn of the realities beyond the iron curtain thanks to the (forbidden) radio channel transmitted in Polish from Munich, “Wolna Europa” (Free Europe).
Polish cinema throughout the post-war era up to 1989 was pure propaganda. Regardless, thanks to movies, life became richer not only among the youth but also for the older folk, especially because after the war none of us had a television. Movies became the only cultural entertainment, especially in the countryside. Movies became a medium of contact with friends—old and new—a chance to exchange perspectives, and discuss and hear about experiences and knowledge of the world.
The audience would exchange these perspectives and experiences after the show, discussing in groups shouting over each other. Often with cigarettes in their mouths. It became a wonderful opportunity to develop new relationships, friendly or romantic, as was the case with me and your grandma.
More often than not outings to the movies would end with inviting friends over for a small bite to eat. There was the opportunity to dance to the music of local musicians, and children would reenact scenes from the movies.
Our trips back home would be on foot, in pairs or in groups, and always cheerful. Thanks to these meetings some new couples were formed, while some became stronger. There would be screenings once a week, mainly war films highlighting the “bravery” of the Red Army and the Polish Army of the People fighting at her side against the Germans. Before every screening they would show the Polish Film Chronicle—containing news from Poland and the rest of the world. For example the rebuilding of the nation from the destruction brought on by the war, conferences of the Communist Party, the work of the youth as they performed their “duty to the motherland,” processions for the 1st of May (Day of Work/Workers/People of the Workforce), and even clips of women driving tractors in the name of the slogan “Hela will be a tractor driver!”
Often movie screenings brought out emotions in the audience. For example the fear that the roaring river might at any time flow out of the screen and onto the viewers, especially because at the time floods were not at all rare. Scenes of horses rushing at the audience startled the viewers. Sometimes the scenes brought out petrification, when we heard explosions on the screen, the rifle-fires of armed soldiers, whose rifles were directed right at us.
Alicja:
Life simply became more interesting and richer. People began speaking more openly and critically regarding their views on reality, and on communist propaganda. One example are the beautiful, patriotic poems written by my (now long passed away) Aunt Maria (a teacher).
Here is an excerpt:
Useless are empty slogans
That Poland wants to live in the Bloc
For Poland will always be Poland
Free for so many years
And may they forever disappear—
The leaders of the Soviet revolution—
For we’ll celebrate till the end
The 3rd of May, the day of our Constitution
