In the flood of film productions, it is not difficult to find something for oneself. The era of blockbusters offers us plenty of stories. However, let’s not fool ourselves, another two hours devoted to a new superhero are not as exciting as they used to be. Fortunately, domestic creators have more and more to say, and among them, there are two names from Bydgoszcz that are increasingly being heard: Marcin Sauter and Maciej Cuske.
The overflow of Hollywood films is not a reason to completely turn away from cinemas and boycott multimillion-dollar titles. After all, alongside the next Spidermans and Avengers, there are also valuable films that can surprise with their form and creativity. You don’t have to look far, as a large portion of valuable content is also being created right under our noses.
Bydgoszcz can boast many creators who have made their mark on the Polish film map. Among them are Marcin Sauter and Maciej Cuske. They are best known for their collaboration on “What Do You Think about That, Gałuszko?”. After this independent production, they began to focus on documentary films, but also went beyond the boundaries of this genre. They have also recently created noteworthy films.
Praise the stranger, not knowing your own
“The Whale from Lorino” is a story set on the Chukotka Peninsula. It is the Siberian part of Russia, where life flows at a completely different rhythm. The film focuses on the residents of this region and their unusual traditions compared to those of European inhabitants. One of these traditions is the hunting of gargantuan-sized whales. These animals are a source of food, and very often, the resources obtained from them are extremely useful in everyday life. Morality has certain boundaries here, and the film poses difficult questions about human nature.
This film was directed by our Bydgoszcz creator, Maciej Cuske. He was also responsible for the screenplay of this work, which has won numerous awards throughout Europe. It is definitely a film worth our time, not only because of its local accents, but also because of the issues it raises. In addition, it takes us on a distant journey to a place we would never normally hear about, showing us what life is like for its inhabitants.
Polish noir crime
However, if you don’t feel like going on a trip to Siberia, you can always stay in “The City”. That’s the title of the latest film directed by Marcin Sauter, and the names associated with this work are truly impressive. Among the actors involved in this production are Bartłomiej Topa, Robert Więckiewicz, Karolina Gruszka, and Stanisław Tym.
This is the cream of the Polish scene, and it’s no wonder there was quite a buzz about “The City”. In the titular metropolis, we follow the fate of a detective who traditionally tries to solve a murder case. During the investigation, a certain gangster and professor become involved in the case. We can watch all of this in a noir style, and the author takes us on a journey not only through the adventures of the main character but also through cinematography.
And the titular city is none other than… Bydgoszcz. We can see it in a way that we have never seen before. The choice of location is not random at all. Not only is Sauter himself from Bydgoszcz, but the studio responsible for the production is the City Centre of Culture in Bydgoszcz. It is worth taking a look at this film, if only to admire a familiar world from an unfamiliar perspective.
