This minimalist black-and-white picture touches on fundamental issues of human existence: familial relationships, illness, death, sacrifice and support. There are two levels at work. In the first, an old man leads his son through the woods; in the second, he is confined to bed, dependent on young man’s help. The two worlds intertwine to depict a parent-child relationship where the roles of protector and protected are reversed over time. The forest symbolizes the landscapes of quests and fateful journeys, the plot even refers to the biblical figures of Abraham and Isaac. In its simplicity and frank delineation it borders on documentary. But the dreamlike atmosphere and minimized dialogue reference an archetypical mythical narrative. —febiofest.cz
Born in 1956 in Warsaw. Screenwriter, creator of artistic design, animator, and cartoon and combined film director, screenwriter and feature film set designer, teacher, graphic artist, illustrator, author of comic strips and posters, writer, critic, actor. Graduate of the Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art (diploma in the studio of stone sculpture conservation) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. He made his debut in 1976 with the étude The Metamorphosis; he is a director of numerous animations such as A Gentle Creature (1985), Wolność nogi (1988), Franz Kafka (1991), Crime and Punishment (2000) and Las shown at the 2009 NH Festival, a feature film with actors and animation. He uses a traditional stroke, and a plaster panel technique he invented by himself. He also makes commercial animations, title sequences of TV series and programmes, commercials and video clips. As a teacher, he gives classes on animation in the Łódź Polish National Film, Television and Theatre… read more
Amazing cinematography. The opening animated sequence was beautiful. Plenty of great imagery throughout the film. I enjoyed the exploration of how time changes the relationship between father and son.
