Continuing with the exclusive Polish silent film festival at the Schloss and after dealing with some servant quarrels ( it must be the bad influence of those communist films that are showing in the Schloss ), on this last mournful night was shown "Bialy Slad" ( White Track )a film directed by Herr Adam Krzeptowski.
Herr Krzeptowski was very fond of the Polish mountains; this was his first and only film as a director although he directed before some sort of publicity film about Zakopane, place in where he lived in the heart of the Tatry Mountains.
"Bialy Slad" featured as the main characters amateur actors, who were by that time well-known Polish skiers, among them Andrzej, Herr Krzeptowski's brother. Now, this German Count recommends the study of Polish personal names before reading the confusing and very Polish plot of the film
The film depicts the story of two orphans, Zoska and Wladek; Zoska is in love with Jasiek, a hunter, but this is an unrequited love because Jasiek loves Hanka, who at the same time is desired by the handsome and strong Andrzej, a mountain climber.
So, love is in the cold Polish air
One day Hanka and Andrzej go for a walk up to the mountains but an avalanche will interfere with their idyll; Jasiek will try to rescue the unfortunate couple but he only will find Andrzej but no trace of Hanka. When Andrzej realizes that Hanka has not been found, he will try to find her alone but without success; the next day he will be rescued in an unconscious state by Zoska and brought to his home where he will find that Hanka is safe and waiting for him. Jasiek sees this happy Polish love scene and realizes that he will never get the love of Hanka so he goes by white track to look for peace and tranquility in the Polish mountains.
This film is highly influenced by Herr Arnold Fanck's mountain films but transcribed to the atmosphere of Polish mountains with very similar intentions: beautiful nature shots where the audience can see skiing competitions, traditional customs and various sky races with the excuse, in this case, of an ordinary plot.
Those incredible and beautiful shots ( the film includes skillful and thrilling subjective shots ) received awards at the 1st International Venice Film Festival, appropriate prizes for a film that was made to celebrate and praise-unpretentiously-those beautiful landscapes.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must polish off some cocktails.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
