The very first days were dedicated to Andrzej Litworn, the University of Udine professor, excellent connoisseur of Italian culture, and promoter of Polish culture and Polish literary heritage in Italy. The event was aimed at the Italian community from the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, at academic youth (the University of Udine has co-operated with the Jagiellonian University for 30 years), national minorities and Polish people living in this area.
Polish Culture Days commenced on 13 March with projections of two Polish films, starring Jerzy Stuhr in “Amator” by Krzysztof Kieślowski and “Kaiman” by Nanni Moretti.
On Friday, 14 March, two sessions with an author took place.
Our first guest was Jacek Dehnel, writer of the young generation, winner of many prizes, interpreter, painter and collector. His novels “Lala” and “Saturn” have already gained deep appreciation and have been translated into Italian amongst other languages. The meeting was organised in co-operation with the University of Udine, and was hosted by Emiliano Ranocchi in a spectacular way. Texts were read by Roberta de Giorgi, from the same university. A group of students studying Polish language at the university, proved to be very active during the discussion. Thanks to that, the author had the opportunity to share with the audience a depiction of the relation between his work and private life, as well as some ideas about national affiliation and role of the literature in the modern world.
The session with Robert Marcinowski, poet and bard from Kraków, turned out to be successful as well. Known as a strictly academic lecturer, he proved himself to be a photographer and a song-writer too, and the photographs that he presented gained a lot of guests’ attention. Participation of the audience turned the meeting into an interactive interchange of ideas, going beyond the area connected only with photography techniques.
Marcin Wyrembelski, from the University of Florence, managed to translate all the poetical texts, which truly was a tough task. The audience favourite was a simultaneous, line by line, –poetic translation of an unpublished work that does not exist in written form, on the subject of love.
On the next day, a meeting with Roberto M. Polce took place. He presented Poland, its customs and traditions in a very enthusiastic way, gripping the hearts of the audience. “From Italy, straight to Gdańsk” told Roberto Polce, who through his photography and personal experience presented a history of emigration “in reverse”: from Italy to Poland (following the excerpt from the Polish National Anthem which, translated, would sound like “from Italian land to Polish”). For many years, through his publications (books, articles and interviews) Robert Polce has presented Poland abroad and shown its positive aspects. In 2012 he was awarded the Bene Merito Award, one of Poland’s highest honours, for his work.. Until 30 March, in the Feltrinelli bookstore, visitors are able to see photography by R.M. Polce, entitled “My Gdańsk”.
On Saturday the jazz evening took place, including a spectacular concert of JazZoom from Kraków (leader: Kasia Zawieracz). They performed swing standards of jazz music, and Latin music with elements bosa nova style, blues ballads and their own tracks – light jazz songs in Polish and Italian. The atmosphere during the show was energetic, incredible and very joyful. The audience begged for several encores. Italian bassist Marco Freschi also participated in the concert as a guest of the band.
The last day began with a screening of the film ‘Habemus Papam” directed by Nanni Moretti. Simultaneously, a meeting with the film character Marcin Rajski (the press secretary of the Vatican), played by the famous Polish director and actor Jerzy Stuhr, took place. The gathering was brilliantly hosted by Marine Fabri, known as a connoisseur of Polish cinematography. The meeting place was full of people. Eminent guests appeared as well, including the mayor of Udine city – F. Honsell, member of Friuli-Venezia Giulia regional council – S. Cremaschi, province representative – Cultural Issues Assessor F. Musto, Vice-consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Milan – Bartosz Skwarczyński, and Jan Tyszkowiecki, from the Ministry of Culture and the National Heritage of the Republic of Poland. Also, Krystyna Litwornia decided to honour gathering with her presence. In his speech, the mayor of the city, F. Honsell, emphasised that Polish Culture Days in Udine were significant cultural events. He also reminded that Friuli-Venezia Giulia province is particularly responsive, due to its location, to Central and Eastern European cultures.
Jerzy Stuhr told about the beginnings of his career in the theatre and film, co-operation with the most famous Polish directors, such as Wajda and Kieślowski, and also about his wide and diverse experience with Italian theatre and cinema and work with Nanni Moretti. Prof. Stuhr reminisced about Prof. Litworn, to whom those days were dedicated. During the meeting, the audience had the pleasure to see excerpts from films as “Amator” and “Dekalog”, to which Stuhr provided a running commentary. After the gathering a formal meal was served. It was prepared by the Polonik Association – and together with Jerzy Stuhr, a successful first year of Polonik Association activities was celebrated.
At the end of the day, Jerzy Stuhr invited everybody to see the film projection “Big Animal” (“Duże Zwierze”) – a film dedicated to K. Kieślowski. “It’s a film that forces the audience to think; the longer we think, the more meanings and interpretations we are able to find. It’s film about tolerance, the right to be different, and freedom of choice” said Jerzy Stuhr.
Audiences willingly attended every meeting, filling the rooms, which satisfied the organisers.
Until the end of March, exhibitions can be viewed at the University of Udine (Palazzo Antonini). They include photography by Maciej Zawieracz, Faust Branchi and Stanislawa Steciak Branchi, showing the beauty of Poland and Italy. In addition, there is an opportunity to see photography presenting the Wieliczka Salt Mine (the curator of the exhibition: the Wieliczka Salt Mine). We cordially invite everybody concerned!
Polish Culture Days were co-financed by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Milan and the Polish Film Institute (PISF) in Warsaw. Sponsorship deals for Polish Culture Days were organised by the Senate Emigration Affairs and Contacts with Poles Abroad Committee, the city of Udine, the University of Udine, the Polish Institute in Rome, and the Polish Association in Italy. Also, support was gained from the city of Kraków, the city of Gdańsk, the Book Institute in Kraków. The initiative dealing with promoting tourism promotion in Poland was funded by the Polish Tourist Organisation in Rome.
Media patrons were TVP Polonia, Link to Poland and Nasz Świat.
We want to express our sincere thanks to all the organisations and institutions that have supported our event, including our sponsors: Energo-Complex sp z.o.o, Rodaro, Pol-Rail srl and partners: Confcommercio Imprese per l’Italia – Ascom-Pordenone, Visionario, Cec, la Feltrinelli and Caffè Caucigh.
Also, we want to thank the audiences for their attendance and active participation in the meetings.
Follow our website: www.polonik.org and facebook/Polonik, where you can read the report from Polish Culture Days and see the Gallery with photos from the event.
Photo © Polish Culture Days in Udine. From left: Dorota Stromidlo, Marina Fabbri, S. Cremaschi (Friuli-Venezia Giulia regional council), Jerzy Stuhr.