Re:tradition Cinema / Discussion: “The Soil” – film screening and a meet’n’greet with the director Zuzanna Solakiewicz and Ewa Grochowska

About

Film screening followed by a meet’n’greet with the director and the protagonist of the story – Ewa Grochowska. 

The film serves as a polyphonic anthem that pays tribute to rural women. These women, who are mature and have a deep connection to the land, come together in song. The film showcases their passionate performances of traditional songs, which are juxtaposed with the untamed nature that farmers work hard to cultivate. Through this raw and authentic music, the film expresses themes of strength, female solidarity, and the sharing of experiences, even the challenging ones. Tradition is depicted as emerging from a mutual exchange of knowledge, vibrant and free from rigidity.

In this documentary musical, every element comes alive with song. From agricultural machines to dough being kneaded for bread, from the wind rustling through the grain to the soil and harvests, even the chickens and wild birds join in the chorus. However, it is the women who take centre stage, using folk songs to express their deep connection to nature and the challenges of everyday life. One significant ritual showcased is the “oczepiny,” where experienced women guide a young woman through the transition from maidenhood to the responsible role of a hostess. Different generations come together, exchanging knowledge and creating a living tradition. The music in the film is raw and untouched by modern arrangements, making it authentic. The singing and lyrics of the songs provide the narrative structure for the film.

“The Soil” provides a platform for rural women to express their individuality and seize opportunities with great determination. The main characters, who are predominantly mature women, reflect on their hard work and compare their strong hands, toughened by laboring in the fields. They also possess a certain mystical quality, resembling esteemed feminist figures, as they discuss the importance of magical thinking.

Ewa, a researcher, ethnographer, and singer, serves as our guide into their world. She seamlessly integrates herself into the Polish villages she explores, alongside the audience.

The camera intimately and affectionately captures the heroines, while nature is depicted from a distance, through wide shots, portraying its beauty but also its untamable essence.

Director: Zuzanna Solakiewicz
Screenplay: Zuzanna Solakiewicz, Zvika Gregory Portnoy
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 72 min
Production: Kijora Film – Anna Gawlita
Cinematography: Zvika Gregory Portnoy
Editing: Zuzanna Solakiewicz
Sound: Marcin Lenarczyk

Details

When: 19 August, 18.20-20.00
Where: Workshops of Culture, Grodzka 5a – auditorium – 2nd floor
Admission free