Stuff of legends at the 19th New Horizons International Film Festival

These epic movies by Béla Tarr and Paul Thomas Anderson hold a special position in the history of cinema. On the 25th anniversary of Devil's Dance and the 20th anniversary of the first screening of Magnolia we will be hosting special screenings of these movies during this year's New Horizons International Film Festival in Wroclaw. It is now rare to see movies of Tarr and Anderson on the big screen, which makes this year's NH festival quite special. The screenings will involve a remastered version of Devil's Dance and a 35 mm format version of Magnolia. The audience will also have the opportunity to see a theater adaptation of Magnolia, directed by Krzysztof Skonieczny whose work includes the Ślepnąc od świateł (Blinded by the lights) series. The spectacle is being prepared by the Contemporary Theater in Wroclaw.

Devil's Dance (Sátántangó), by Béla Tarr

Magnificent, spectacular and grand: Devil's Dance has earned all of these titles. Béla Tarr's film is one of the most epic accomplishments of the New Horizon cinema and serves as an artistic compass for a whole generation of filmmakers. Hungarian director set out to remind the audience - by employing a shock therapy of sorts - what true film making is really about. The use of black and white was his response to oversaturated chaos of visual culture we see today, while long pans without cuts were a protest against the rush used in music videos and commercials. The 7.5 hour long film stands tall as opposition to the modern appetite for the superficial. Devil's Dance is a great example of what is known as slow cinema. It is a new framework of cinematic language, which serves as a cultural and social manifesto (while being much longer and more elaborate than a manifesto usually should be). The event held at Wrocław will also involve a first ever screening of the remastered version in Poland. Earlier the movie has been shown at the Berlin festival.

Magnolia by Paul Thomas Anderson

During its premiere in 1999 Magnolia became a triumph of Paul Thomas Anderson and a major event in cinematography. Twenty years later this still rings true. Anderson's creation is still a fascinating mix of stage grandeur and intimate whispers. The American director uses all manner of tools to tell the intertwined stories of nine people. The success of Magnolia comes not only from brilliant directing, but also fantastic performances (including Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman) and unforgettable songs by Aimee Mann.

Magnolia at the Contemporary Theater in Wroclaw

After the success of the HBO TV series Blinded by the lights Krzysztof Skonieczny uses the cult classic Magnolia by Paul Thomas Anderson as a template for creating a dark, theatric tale. The warm relationships help showcase family dynamics, yearning for love and unconditional acceptance. The protagonists are the individuals in crisis, who can handle the reality, but have trouble with emotions and struggle against echos of their own past. The past mixes with the present, evoking the future. The cyclical nature of life becoming anew in different variations shows the importance of taking responsibility for your own actions, since their impact will sooner or later become apparent - one way or another. Magnolia is a spectacle about forgiveness, excess and both yearning for love and lack thereof. More details soon.

(translation by CM Translation Services, Wroclaw)