When I found this title in the web, I had no doubts that I should read it. My interest in the 60s and the people of that time has not weakened for all these years. It is a very magical time, full of charm, madness, that unique taste of creating something, which will last for years. Something special. I often tell people that I was born late. It was my time, but perhaps I would not be able to appreciate all that if I could not view it from this perspective. Anyway, when I found this book in a small bookshop on Świętojańska Street in Gdynia, I quickly grabbed the last copy, as if it was the greatest treasure, and ran to the cash-desk! As soon as I got on the bus in Oksywie region, I began the book.
And that is when the first surprise unveiled – the narration. The story is told from the perspective of Marek Niziński’s mother – Mrs. Ewa Krzyżanowska, about whom, shame to admit, I did not know anything by that moment. Her life would have been a good story for an interesting Hollywood movie. The story of the last few months of life of a great jazz musician. The story about a strong friendship of prominent artists with difficult personality combined with the complicated history of our homeland at the time of communism. In the book there is also one more fascinating character, Roman Polański, with whom the story begins. It was him who made Krzysztof Trzciński to go to Hollywood to work over his next movie – Rosemary’s Baby. It is weird to read a story while you know the ending. Sometimes you even want to shout ‘Don’t go there, don’t do it, not like that, not now!’ While reading, I laughed hard, cried when moved or felt sorry that it ended in such way, I felt indignant about the heartlessness of lawyers, avarice of the corporations and ordinary people, I was angry with all false friends, I discovered certain facts from the lives of my heroes, which I had not known before. I lived this story for the entire week. The narration of Tomasz Lach, son of Zofia Komeda-Trzcińska, has absorbed me into that climate for good. The Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, Paramount Pictures, and the pictures of private lives of celebrities such as Barbra Streisand, Fred Astaire or Gina Rowlands cleverly involved in the story. The kind of world that fascinates people throughout the world. Despite the ruthlessness. Despite the completely different reality. This a little bit familiar climate of Polish environments. Different times, different lands, and the human nature remains somehow unchanged…
For those who are in favour of Krzysztof Komeda’s music, and for those who are fascinated by the literature of Marek Hłaski, and those who are familiar with Marek Niziński’s photography, it is the mandatory book. Only one question remains, which will keep bothering me for long, who really was Elana Lani Cooper?
I encourage you to listen to Krzysztof Komeda’s works, to visit his interesting webpage: HERE and to read the book of Tomasz Lach, to whom I am grateful for having written those amazing stories.
Photo © Book’s cover: “Ostatni tacy przyjaciele. Komeda, Hłasko, Niziński”. Tomasz Lach. 2013. Instytut Wydawniczy Latarnik