It is well known that the German aristocracy doesn't sometimes have limits. In Central Europe for centuries there have been many problems and quarrels with their neighbours trying to clarify their limits, that is to say, where the German aristocracy's estate holdings begins or ends.
But this European custom wasn't exclusive of the German aristocracy. It was depicted in the Polish film that was shown last night at the Schloss theatre, "Cud Nad Wisla" ( Miracle At The Vistula ), a film directed by Herr Ryszard Boleslawski based in the decisive battle ( won by the Poles ) between Second Polish Republic and Soviet Russia in what is known as the Polish-Soviet war.
"Cud Nad Wisla" was the last Polish film by Herr Boleslawski, a stage actor from an early age, who studied under Herr Stanislavsky at the Moscow Art Theater and who began after this film a successful career in Amerika working with famous actors of the time.
"Cud Nad Wisla" is a remarkable film in spite of the fact that some of the reels are lost forever. The film is in 8 acts but is only three of them are available. Still, there is no problem to enjoy Herr Boleslawski's skillful direction.
The film depicts two Polish love stories. The first involves Dame Krysta (Jadwiga Smosarska, a famous Polish actress of that time). She's a daughter of a wealthy landholder who was brought up by the Granowski family and is in love with Jerzy, elder son of the Granowski's. The second is between Dame Ewa, daughter of a hospital porter and a doctor who she loves, Jan Powada.
It is Christmas Eve and such merry sentiments among those couples will be threatened with the coming of the Bolshevik soldiers. This complicates love matters but everything finally will end up happily for both couples with the defeat of the Bolshevists by the Poles at the battle of Warsaw. The film ends with the wedding of both couples
in what this German aristocrat thinks that it is a even more terrible fate, to be married instead of occupied by the Bolshevists!!
The film narrative of "Cud Nad Wisla" is very fluid and ingenious, keeping in mind that the Polish industry at that time were not a very important or generally remarkable one technically. The picture includes double exposures or the use of different parts of the screen as a substitute of combined close-ups. The story has a certain epic and classic quality, developing superbly the different parts of the story
first in depicting the future plans of those lovers and then showing how the war influenced and affected their lives. The result is a perfectly paced and structured film.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must to delimit the Schloss limits beyond the legal limits.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
