Borscht Film Club Friday January 16th, 6:00 p.m. Doors: 5:45 p.m. CCA Centre for Contemporary Arts 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD Man of Marble, dir. Andrzej Wajda, Poland, 1976, Runtime: 153 min Screenplay: Aleksander Ścibor‑Rylski Cinematography: Edward Kłosiński Music: Andrzej Korzyński Editing: Halina Prugar‑Ketling Cast: Krystyna Janda (Agnieszka), Jerzy Radziwiłowicz (Mateusz Birkut / Maciej Tomczyk), Tadeusz Łomnicki, Michał Tarkowski, Piotr Cieślak, Janusz Gajos, among others. Produced by: Zespół Filmowy X Premiere: 25 February 1977 (Poland) ​Tickets: £10, £8, £6 Book tickets: Film Screening - GLASGOW - Man of Marble, dir. Andrzej Wajda, Poland, 1976 at Centre for Contemporary Arts (Cinema) event tickets from TicketSource Presented with a recorded introduction by film scholar Bolesław Racięski PL version below: Andrzej Wajda’s Man of Marble remains one of the most powerful and influential works in Polish cinema — a bold, incisive film that exposes the mechanisms of propaganda, memory and political myth‑making. Through the story of young filmmaker Agnieszka, who sets out to uncover the truth about forgotten labour hero Mateusz Birkut, Wajda crafts a sharp, fearless critique of how history is written, erased and manipulated. The film’s enduring significance was reaffirmed in the recent nationwide poll “13 Films for 130 Years of Cinema”, organised by the Museum of Cinematography in Łódź. Among nearly 1,700 titles submitted by 289 film professionals, Man of Marble was ranked among the "13 greatest Polish films of all time" — a testament to its lasting impact and its central place in Poland’s cinematic heritage. Blending political cinema, documentary form and moral inquiry, Man of Marble broke new ground when it premiered and continues to resonate today. Its questions about truth, responsibility and the role of the artist feel as urgent now as they did in the 1970s. Oczywiście — przygotowałam po kilka eleganckich, treściwych zdań o kreacjach aktorskich Człowieka z marmuru, w dwóch wersjach językowych. The performances in Man of Marble are central to the film’s emotional and political power. Krystyna Janda delivers a striking debut as Agnieszka — energetic, sharp and relentlessly inquisitive. Her intensity gives the film its momentum and frames the search for truth as both a personal and political act. Jerzy Radziwiłowicz creates a deeply moving dual portrayal of Mateusz Birkut and his son Maciej. His Birkut is both heroic and vulnerable, shaped by idealism and crushed by the system that once celebrated him. The quiet dignity he brings to the role remains one of the most memorable performances in Polish cinema. The supporting cast — including Tadeusz Łomnicki, Michał Tarkowski and Janusz Gajos — enrich the film with layered, precise character work that grounds Wajda’s political vision in lived human experience. In addition, the Polish Senate has officially declared 2026 the Year of Andrzej Wajda, honouring the legacy of one of Poland’s most celebrated filmmakers. Screening Man of Marble at the start of this commemorative year offers a timely opportunity to revisit the film’s artistic and political impact. The screening will be introduced by Dr Bolesław Racięski, who will explore the film’s historical context, its reception and its place within Wajda’s body of work. Supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh. Part of the Beetroots Collective (https://beetroots.org), an organisation led by a group of diverse artists and creatives aiming to promote Eastern European culture in Scotland. This film is curated by Agnieszka Koperniak-Kerr (Film Programming Manager).