Early Works, Program 1: To Describe the World

With official television showing only progress and unity in the “new Poland,” Kieslowski's documentaries were a revelation. Filmed after the bloody workers' strikes of 1970, Workers 1971: Nothing About Us Without Us (Robotnicy 1971: Nico nasbez nas) (1972, 47 mins, Beta SP) juxtaposes impressionist images of a working day with miners, steelworkers, and textile workers expressing their concerns and opinions. Inspired by Kieslowski's passion for automobiles and the upcoming Monte Carlo race, Before the Rally (Przed rajdem) (1971, 14 mins, Beta SP) follows a Polish racer preparing to race with a Polish-made Fiat, and his subsequent battles with bureaucratic inefficiency and apathy. Factory (Fabryka) (1970, 18 mins, 35mm) contrasts the actions of a group of workers with the inactions of their managers, while Refrain (Refren) (1972, 9 mins, 35mm) harks back to the earlier Office in its observational portrait of the utter indifference of an institution (in this case, a funeral home) to the public.

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