The film “Chopin, Chopin!” directed by Michał Kwieciński opened this year’s 50th Gdynia Film Festival (22-27 September 2025). I didn’t manage to see it during the festival, but I’ve already caught up. I admit, when I learned that such a film was being made, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it. But the trailer completely convinced me! A snippet of it was enough for Eryk Kulm, who plays the main role, to entice me to the cinema 😉
It’s not easy to take the story of a famous person and tell it in an engaging and outstanding way. Director Michał Kwieciński focused on a rather difficult moment in Fryc’s life (as Chopin’s friends called him) – the film covers the period when Fryderyk struggles with an illness that devastates him, both his body and his soul.
In my opinion, this is a brilliant idea for this film, as we get to see the “human” side of Fryderyk – his everyday life – in the comfort of his home, but also during concerts, where he was treated like a star. A genius, a virtuoso, whose ideas for compositions were never out of the blue, but whose creative process was sometimes very long and arduous.
Friendships, jealousies, and playing – the piano and the game of appearences. That’s what the film “Chopin, Chopin!” is about. And it tells the story in a non-obvious way – full of energy, color, and (not only) Paris, with its shadows and lights. The magnificent sets, beautiful interiors, and costumes – all of this gave the impression that we were somewhere in the next room, spying on it all. And to top it all off, Eryk Kulm – absolutely natural and brilliant in the role! The fact that he plays and loves music himself (therefore, there was no need for a double on set, or separate shots showing Chopin’s hands and face while playing the piano) allowed him to convey so many genuine emotions in the concert scenes and while creating music.
The creators of “Chopin, Chopin!” portrayed Fryderyk as a man who, despite his fame and many acquaintances, also feels lonely and unhappy. He doesn’t want his illness to evoke mercy, but on the other hand waits for his loved ones to read between the lines that he needs help and doesn’t want to be alone. Sounds a bit contemporary, doesn’t it?
Before I go to the cinema for a premiere, I sometimes read reviews or interviews about a given film – which, I admit, is not always a good idea. I read, among other things, that despite the record budget for a Polish production, which was consumed, for example, by collective costume scenes from the streets of Paris, there are relatively many close-ups of Fryderyk himself, which means that you can’t see the millions invested in the film!
Of course, this did not discourage me from watching the film about the Polish virtuoso, but it stayed in my mind and has now returned as I share my impressions of the film. And I will tell you that it is precisely these shots, where Chopin conveyed (or perhaps hid) so much emotion with his facial expressions and gaze, that are the film’s strong point.
I recommend the film not only to lovers of biographies or music, but also to those who like interesting stories. Of course, it does not exclude the possibility that it will encourage you to listen to Chopin’s music or buy a ticket for the next International Chopin Piano Competition : )