MY ROAST CHICKEN preceeded by MAGNET MAN

SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER AT 3PM UGC SHAFTESBURY AVE SCREEN 2

Country Poland Running Time 58 mins Format Beta SP Dir/S'play Iwona Siekierzynska Prods Dariusz Jablonski, Violetta Kaminska DoP Witold Plocuiennik Cast Agata Kulesza, Adam Nawojczyk, Maria Maj, Antoni Barszczak Print Source Poltel Entertainment E festivals@tvp.pl

Director Iwona Siekierzynska depicts the return of a young family, Magda and Wojtek and their young son, to Poland after a five-year stay in Canada.

As the couple struggle for economic survival and feel ever more claustrophobic in Magda's mother's cramped flat, their marriage falters. The breakdown of their relationship is depicted with quiet realism and the film offers an excellent down-to-earth look at modern Poland without overdramatising the harsh existence into which the couple are thrust.

Gradually the film tracks how the couple reaffirm themselves, Wojtek through opening a refreshment stand selling roast chicken and Magda by taking a course in making documentaries at film school. Siekierzynska stylishly conveys the idea that Magda realises the dialogue she seeks between her and a viewer through film is to compensate for the lack of dialogue between her and her husband.

The whole film is charming in its simplicity - strong acting from the young leads creates the impression of a real couple past the honeymoon period of love, and Witold Plocuiennik's cinematography is unshowy yet of an excellent standard. All in all, a wonderful short mood piece which displays great respect for its characters. OH

Iwona Siekierzynska graduated in Psychology at Gdansk University and the Film Directing Dept. at the State Film School in Lodz. In 1996, she was nominated for a Student Oscar for a short film entitled Pancia. In 2000, she received a 'Cinefoundation' scholarship at the Cannes Film Festival.

MAGNET MAN Pol | 35mm | 20 mins | Dir Marcin Wrona Prod Maja Wlodarczyk P/S marlo@oz.pl

A story of a conflict between a son and his mystical father who has the power to heal.