„Simona Kossak”, directed by Adrian Panek, is the film I saw as the last one at the 49th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, Poland, within the Main Competition. I was persuaded to go for this film by Jakub Gierszał, who plays one of the leading roles in the film. His performances in films such as „Doppelgänger. The Double”, “Biała odwaga” (“White Courage”) and “Ultima Thule” reassured me that his presence in the film would guarantee interesting, natural acting. And that’s already half the film’s success (as if the plot wasn’t engaging enough).
The film tells the story of Simona (Sandra Drzewiecka), a girl who is about to graduate from university and wants to become a naturalist and a scientist. However, there is one (at least) problem. The surname. Her surname. The same one that her famous father and even more famous grandfather bore (Wojciech Kossak was famous Polish painter). It is not easy being the child of one’s parents and an entire family. However, Simona is ready to start a life on her own. Her family „helps” her a lot – it is all „thanks” to her mother (Agnieszka Kulesza) and sister (Marianna Zydek) that she is ready for her independence and a trip to Białowieża to observe the feeding habits of roe deer there. For a promising scientist, this may sound like a send-off, but then there are no more interesting proposals for a woman. And at this stage in Simona’s life, roe deer were a far more interesting option than hearing about how „grandfather was a great painter”.
The film is characterised by a strong plot start and, importantly, does not slow down until the closing credits. It is hard to believe that a single film can deal with themes relating to the treatment of women in scientific circles, difficult family and interpersonal relationships in general, the felling of state forests, nepotism and arrangements in various structures, and additionaly add to it romance and depict nature as in National Geographic documentaries. But it can. And it can do it well and convincingly.
This film consists of a very good script and its good implementation as well. A great cast – strong, expressive female characters, played by Sandra Drzewiecka, Marianna Zydek and Agnieszka Kulesza, as well as equally well played by men – Jakub Gierszał, Borys Szyc, Robert Gonera and Tomasz Sapryk. And wonderful actors and actresses – animals. They felt like fish in water in front of the camera (or rather like animals should feel in the wilderness?). Beautiful cinematography and music. Everything here was ‘for something’.
It is worth mentioning that the film is set in 1970. If it weren’t for this information, one might think that everything takes place in modern times. Has the world changed so little in half a century? Are we the ones who have failed to cope with the challenges it has posed (and continues to pose)? And we think only of ourselves and our own benefits, with the moment of sobriety only coming in the wake of disasters such as the recent flood in southern Poland? That’s when there comes the conclusion that maybe cutting down trees is a stupid idea after all….
There is one scene in the film that particularly stuck in my memory – it shows a network of underground connections between trees where, by means of connected roots, they can „feed” each other. This image should be printed out and hung above the desks of all those responsible for urban planning and felling green spaces – so that in moments of doubt they have the right guidance as to what is right and what is wrong.
And what are your impressions after watching the film about Simona from the Kossak family?