Did you expect such success with your first feature?
While making the film, the most important thing is a movie. I just try to focus on my work and do not look ahead to the time when the film will be finished. On the other hand, of course I was hoping that the effect will be good and I tried to do all that has been so.
What was the motivation to start your adventure with cinematography? You made your debut as an actor in Małgorzata Szumowska’s “In the name of…”, you are the author of many scenarios and more and more recognizable as a director. In which role do you feel best?
In the movie “In the name of…” I appeared in the episode. With that film I worked as an assistant director and co-operation with Malgorzata Szumowska was firstly very interesting, and secondly, I’ve learned a lot. I feel good both – writing the script and working on the plan as director.
You wrote the screenplay for, and directed, “Kebab & Horoscope.” Did the dual role turn out to be easier, or on the contrary?
I think that, especially with the debut of directing his own script is a considerable facilitation. Inevitably, the director is well aware, what was the screenwriter’s intention. That fact gave me a time to understand the characters, and see, what’s for me the most important in that plot.
What would you say about working on the film?
I remember working on a plan very well for several reasons. Due to the good cooperation with the actors. The meeting with each of them was of great importance. Besides, I felt that for each of the team members what we do really matters. Cooperation with producers, Agnieszka Kurzydlo and Inga Kruk, was excellent and well organized – we did two scenes a day, allowing to work out exactly everything.
We often keep in our memory ridiculous situations of everyday life, because they differ from established routines. Was there any actual events, which inspired scenes from the film?
Part of the situations, certainly, was inspired by something I saw. But during the process of writing the screenplay so much is changing and converts, that even spied situations begin to live their own life and slowly separate from the main inspirations. After a while it’s hard for me to say, exactly, which situation was inspired and what has been invented.
The audience and critics appreciated “Kebab & Horoscope”. The crowd at the show in Karlovy Vary, the prize for Best Debut Feature at Raindance… what was, in your opinion, the element to ensure its sympathy and attention?
It is difficult to say yet. I think i need a bit more time to take a look at my film from the outside. Still, some time has to pass for me to attempt to judge it.
Two crooks, with the graceful nicknames Kebab and Horoscope, claiming to be marketing specialists, implement a recovery program in order to save the carpet store from bankruptcy… or under the surface of the leading plot the viewer has a chance to find something else, the space for additional interpretation?
As a director, I hope so, but it depends on each individual viewer.
Is the film more a comedy or, rather, a drama? What can the viewer expect when they enter the cinema?
This movie is absurd, exactly like the life of the characters. And in certain moments this absurdity can be funny, but at some point it may be annoying or even painful. We can laugh about the characters because their lives are meaningless and are just trying to deal with this in a clumsy or even stupid way. Nonetheless, after a while we realize that our life doesn’t have much more sense, and we are not much smarter than those characters. For one viewer, this story will be amusing, for another, not.
Your debut short film – “Frozen Stories” garnered great reviews. Your first feature as well. Do you have already plans for the future? Any current projects?
I’m writing a script with screenwriter Kinga Krzemińska. The working title is “The Story of One Inscription”. The film will be produced in cooperation with Agnieszka Kurzydlo as well. The scenario is developed with EAVE program.
I can only congratulate the debut in such a style. On the other hand, success is always associated with some pressure on the subsequent achievements… How do you feel about that?
I am happy that I made my first feature film. And this is probably the feeling that I feel the most right now. I am very curious about what I’ll do next. And it is definitely just curiosity more than any pressure.
“Kebab & Horoscope” will be screened during The 4th edition of Play Poland Film Festival in the following cities:
10.11 – Sunderland (David Puttam Media Centre)
12.11 – Glasgow (GFT)
13.11 – Edinburgh (Filmhouse Cinema)
15.11 – London (Clapham Picturehouse)
Detailed programme of screenings for each city and information about tickets and accompanying events is available on the official website: Play Poland Film Festival and on Facebook
Photos © press kit of the film distributor – Kino Świat
