29/02/2008

In Poland in the last few years, the first quarter of the year has proved to be the most profitable in terms of box office earnings. This year, the trend has definitely been confirmed: the last two months have seen the best results since 1989. Audience figures reached 7m during the first eight weeks of this year.

This season’s key film is Lejdis (released on February 1), a romantic comedy by Andrzej Saramonowicz (Testosteron, Pól serio). The title has garnered almost 1.8m admissions and has occupied first position in the local top 10 since its release.

Whilst failing to attract the masses, the more highbrow titles have not been completely eclipsed and are enjoying modest success. But the general public flock to see mainstream Polish films, which are more popular than Hollywood comedies.

This success can be explained by the impressive Polish titles on offer at the start of the year. Forum Film released on 105 screens Wojciech Adamczyk’s Ranczo Wilkowyje (350,000 admissions); Monolith launched on 118 screens Mariusz Malec’s Jeszcze raz (“Once More” – over 650,000 admissions); SPI released on 112 screens Maciej Zak’s Rozmowy noca (“Talk to Each Other, At Night” – 216,000 admissions) ; and Film Polski launched on 61 screens Rezerwat (“Reserve” – 118,000 admissions).

March will also offer a broad selection of releases, including five Polish films. Three of these are co-productions: Ken Loach’s It’s a Free World... [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Hanna Antonina Wójcik-Slak’s Teah and Stanislaw Mucha’s Hope.

Success is predicted for Lukasz Karwowski’s romantic comedy Expecting Love, which hits screens today. This Polish/US co-production starring Agnieszka Grochowska and Joshua Leonard is being released by ITI.

(Translated from French)