Post by rosemary on Jan 14, 2006 12:31:50 GMT -5
While discussing „Zoonotic“ with maherjunkie I remembered some warm memories. About a time of movie-making and promoting the movie in Poland.
We had been acting for a long time, under the firm reign of Polish (female) director A. We had made a movie I deemed the worst satirical documentary ever. But I could identify with the goal: Rebuilding the destroyed relationship between Germans and Poles.
The movie was too long, over two hours, as are most independent movies. But we all were proud. It was my first movie (though I had some stage experience) and I had made myself the leading actor, overshadowing the much more experienced M. I don‘t think she was happy with that. Acting has been my life, that‘s what she said, and you are merely juggling balls on the stage. But our friendship was never shattered, anyway.
The premiere party was scheduled on some day in May 2002. I didn‘t want to attend. „It is not as if you had a choice“ was A.‘s answer. „You are the leading actor now, your part isn‘t just supporting. You are pulling the whole thing.“
But I forgot. I arrived 20 m inutes after the initial greetings of the diplomats and deans and I wasn‘t exactly sober. When Janek complained, that I was drunk I felt a little embarrassed. „O come over“, I said, „one half bottle of port and a two or three becherovkas is all I‘ve had.“ He raised his eyebrows. „At 11 am?“ Then A. turned up. She wore a dress pant suit and more make-up than usual. She was radiant. „You are drunk?“ she asked me, still radiant. „A little.“ I replied. „Good“, she said. „It matches your image. You‘re an artist, now. But stay polite. I guess you remember all your lines?“ -- „Sure.“ Janek: „I‘m going to get her some extra-strong coffee.“
Be pulled off our repertoire. It included some brief scenes of acting, recitation of poems as well as singing. When I was about to go, I put my coat on the wrong way, so that the seams were on the outside, and I wondered why the zipper wouldn‘t close. A woman from the audience helped me. She said: „I‘ve got two things to tell you. First: You‘re a terrific actress. And second: You are definitely drunk.“
A week later we were in Poznan, Poland, already. It was a big thing. We promoted our movie and pulled off our whole repertoire. But the day before I had had an argument with A. She wanted us to rehearse the whole day, on the green right to the theatre, with a busy street next to us and communion kids (it was may, remember!) watching us. And I had enough. We had rehearsed the whole night in a lonely loft. We were tired. My voice was husky from the all-night rehearsal.
But the show was great. We got lots of applause, and suddenly people came up and handed me gifts. They addressed me with my nickname „the engine“ (at least partly due to smoking habits), and told me I was „the best engine in the world“. Gifts included: A mug with the inscription: „You are a great engine!“, an arrangement of dried tree leaves, a bar of chocolat (which I shared with the other actors) and a children‘s book, dedicated to the „best engine we know“. -- For the next years I couldn‘t walk around in Poznan without being recognized as „the engine“.
But that evening I was only tired. I didn‘t want to assist at the party in the evening. I found two lunch vouchers and went dining with M. We had a delicious goulash, huge portions. After I had found a church that was still open, I received Holy Communion and went to sleep early. I really felt more in heaven than on earth.
That short time in Poland was definetely a „chairos“, a lucky moment. I haven‘t been that happy again. But who knows what is still to come.
We had been acting for a long time, under the firm reign of Polish (female) director A. We had made a movie I deemed the worst satirical documentary ever. But I could identify with the goal: Rebuilding the destroyed relationship between Germans and Poles.
The movie was too long, over two hours, as are most independent movies. But we all were proud. It was my first movie (though I had some stage experience) and I had made myself the leading actor, overshadowing the much more experienced M. I don‘t think she was happy with that. Acting has been my life, that‘s what she said, and you are merely juggling balls on the stage. But our friendship was never shattered, anyway.
The premiere party was scheduled on some day in May 2002. I didn‘t want to attend. „It is not as if you had a choice“ was A.‘s answer. „You are the leading actor now, your part isn‘t just supporting. You are pulling the whole thing.“
But I forgot. I arrived 20 m inutes after the initial greetings of the diplomats and deans and I wasn‘t exactly sober. When Janek complained, that I was drunk I felt a little embarrassed. „O come over“, I said, „one half bottle of port and a two or three becherovkas is all I‘ve had.“ He raised his eyebrows. „At 11 am?“ Then A. turned up. She wore a dress pant suit and more make-up than usual. She was radiant. „You are drunk?“ she asked me, still radiant. „A little.“ I replied. „Good“, she said. „It matches your image. You‘re an artist, now. But stay polite. I guess you remember all your lines?“ -- „Sure.“ Janek: „I‘m going to get her some extra-strong coffee.“
Be pulled off our repertoire. It included some brief scenes of acting, recitation of poems as well as singing. When I was about to go, I put my coat on the wrong way, so that the seams were on the outside, and I wondered why the zipper wouldn‘t close. A woman from the audience helped me. She said: „I‘ve got two things to tell you. First: You‘re a terrific actress. And second: You are definitely drunk.“
A week later we were in Poznan, Poland, already. It was a big thing. We promoted our movie and pulled off our whole repertoire. But the day before I had had an argument with A. She wanted us to rehearse the whole day, on the green right to the theatre, with a busy street next to us and communion kids (it was may, remember!) watching us. And I had enough. We had rehearsed the whole night in a lonely loft. We were tired. My voice was husky from the all-night rehearsal.
But the show was great. We got lots of applause, and suddenly people came up and handed me gifts. They addressed me with my nickname „the engine“ (at least partly due to smoking habits), and told me I was „the best engine in the world“. Gifts included: A mug with the inscription: „You are a great engine!“, an arrangement of dried tree leaves, a bar of chocolat (which I shared with the other actors) and a children‘s book, dedicated to the „best engine we know“. -- For the next years I couldn‘t walk around in Poznan without being recognized as „the engine“.
But that evening I was only tired. I didn‘t want to assist at the party in the evening. I found two lunch vouchers and went dining with M. We had a delicious goulash, huge portions. After I had found a church that was still open, I received Holy Communion and went to sleep early. I really felt more in heaven than on earth.
That short time in Poland was definetely a „chairos“, a lucky moment. I haven‘t been that happy again. But who knows what is still to come.