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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1982)
Wednesday, October 20, 1982 Daily Nebraskan Page 9 Contract's Creating a freedom out of restriction By David Thompson In the opening scene of "Contract," a film by Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi, an old woman walks through the woods on a winter day. The crisp, clear photography enunciates the snow and the silence. Chaos ensures when a runaway" horse nearly tramples the woman, followed by several men chasing the animal. "It's gone berserk!" one of them yells at the woman, who mumbles to herself while she picks up her scattered parcels. That is the point of action on which Zanussi focuses his film. In Poland, a culture steeped in tradition and political restraint is attempting to maintain stability in the midst of opposing forces that threaten to break loose. "Contract" is about the point at which the old meets the new, tradition meets logic and the law meets the desire for freedom. Zanussi himself was present at the screening of "Con tract" Friday night at Sheldon. The screening, along with his visit, was- part of a study of Polish film entitled "The Cinema of Moral Dissent: Films of Poland." The films in the series are definitely worth our at tention. Here is a group of film-makers attempting to create plausible art in a society with a strict standard of what can and cannot be shown. Living and creating within limitations unknown to us in the United States, Polish artists must reconcile their attempts at portraying reality with the regulated reality that actually exists. On one side is a society regimented by the govern ment. On the other is a population that has created its own method for carrying on human functions in the face of constraint. As the recent imposition of martial law makes appallingly clear, the balance between these I BUS fco&SlGS I J' 245 North 13th Stree. jfi ufj Lincoln, Nebraska m IMIillHWIIIIiyiilllMiMBBBMaBMiBBKBBMBWIIMI III MM Ei r I OUTERWEAR Laathar Jackals and Special Group tot taaoo NflW $79.M SUITS Special Croup ftetuoooo NOW $69.00 AM Wool 3-Pc Pinrirfp toatraoo NOW $169.00 EnUra Stock 20H to SO Off SHORT SLEEVE KNITS AND SPORT SHIRTS to, (7H NOW a tor 61140 !, lift n 1 -i w : mm i I rf . V ALL ON SALE SpOft SMrts LEI JEANS StraigMU to, moo NOW $15.99 SPORT COATS Special Group noo NOW $49 00 Navy BiaMT Poly and Wool nn njsoo nun . DRESS SHIRTS to,M.$sai NOW $12.9 Tm tor 125 00 4: Moa-Sal 10 5 30 Tis. 10-1 Uchft 467-7070 Bank Card -Lavawa dual realities is a delicate one, one that is sometimes tipped too far in one direction. In his discussion with the audience after the film, Zanussi described the balance that he too must main tain. There are characters in the film representing the conservative side of society, the old guard who makes sure the rules are being followed. But the occupations of these characters are never made clear. Zanussi explains,MIf I were doing this film my way he would be a minister or a secretary' of the central party committee, but it is impossible to say this in my country." The point at which an artist has stepped on one too many toes with his commentary is made clear by the exile of Andrzej Wajda, from Poland. He is a director fregarded by many to be one of the finest working in the world today. Two of his films, "Man of Marble" and "Man of Iron," will be shown this week as part of the series. In Film Comment magazine, critic Peter Cowie has called Zanussi "a director to match Andrzej Wajda." Both are working at articulating the feelings of a society in flux, a society whose cinema has been called "the cinema of moral anxiety." "Contract," like the other films in the series, is a product of that anxiety. Its structure is basic, its con flicts traditional, its statement made with wit and dig nity. It doesn't propose a definite answer, because there isn't one. History will come. As Zanussrsaid in his dis cussion, "Toward eternity there is no progress.' The dilemma that Poland is experiencing is made clear in the closing scene of the film. Two women walk in the woods discussing the difficulties of the situation M Sororities, Fraternities and 1 Private Club 1 I Hove your 1 I FAC PARTIES at Johnny's Lounge 1 2604 Park g (on the vay to Pioneers Park) jf f Finest Bar in Town s H Call 47S8959 between 9 -12 am Jf f for leasing information. Jf Ask your friends where they have their Best Parties. ' We hear you. When you say you need help fitting classes, work and other commitments into your schedule, we help. Independent study. To find out more, visit the UNL Division of Continuing Studies Independent Study Department, room 269 Nebraska Center For Continuing Education, 33rd and Holdrege. Take the shuttle bus from city campus. Or call 472-1926. OS Lsoo&siryi'v - Cvnpus t UNL dam not daammmf in its academic, admissions or mpJoymwrt program, and abides by atl f adaral reguutions partaanng to i created in the film. "Perhaps silence is the best policy," one of them says. As she says this they see a deer through the trees. The stag looks at them, its gaze firm and direct, ema nating strength and determination. Zanussi called the deer a being from "a world less corrupt, a world that, unlike ours, has kept its balance" Then the deer looks directly at us, and the screen goes blank. The gaze of the deer, like the films in the series, leaves us with something to consider, something to help us understand a world apart from our own, some thing to help us see the balance of freedom in which we all must live. The Polish film series continues through Sunday. mmmmmmmmmmmmmummmmmtmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmtmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmu mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm alas m 12th and "P St. 477-1234 FRIDAY "A siu::::hi! I'fC aaaiaaaj taaaaaa LrtJ U. IWMaiaaJ lata 3 EHUQFI' ViKtitcis&r N.T. roses Produced and Directed by KEVIN RAFFERTY JAyNE LOADER PIERCE RAFFERTY A lim.ilmA Release ' 1982 UNL Opera Theatre presents dIUlijLL ru i nl il htaSattaVa 1 aaVV ' I J (aaVaaaaaaaav Ulusic snd Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim October 28-30 at 8pm October 31 at 3pm Regular $7 $5 Students & Children $5 $3 fltaaaaaaMaaMaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Kimbaii Performing Arts Series presents 1MB FEL BALLET 7 & November 5. 6 & 7 at 8 pm Regular Admission $12$10 UNL Students $7S5 Thej program is supported in part by lundiog Irom t Nebraska Arts Coundi and ti Naboruri EnoowmiH tar Arts Oanca Touring Program as ooonfenassd by MaJ Amancs Arts Alhsnca. BALL HALL11&R Boi One (11-5) 113 tlusic CUS 11th ft R 472-3375 mm UnhfaWsRy of KetiraaXa Uncotn
