Cinema of the World

STORY:

The film depicts the organic growth and then disintegration of the
family nexus (Mother, Father, Son) and the story takes place within
the confines of the family appartment. The family hearth is a source
of nourishment, but also contains the seeds of its own decay. As the
threads of family life unwind, those of the natural sphere advance and
absorb the human world into the humus of the forest floor.

The film is framed as a series of slowly moving tableaux, seen through
the eye of memory (that of the Son). The camera perspectives create an
air of mystery and surreality, which is echoed by the paintings on the
walls, those of de Chirico. Strange events multiply, a painting
bleeds, a blizzard whirls out of the refrigerator, a giant tree bursts
through the floor of the appartment and is lovingly tended by the
family. Then the forest darkens...and the roes return.

The opera score and libretto show the influence of Philip Glass,
and of Shostakovich and Schnittke.

(From Lech Wajewski's personal website)

THE ROES' ROOM - AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FILM OPERA

An apartment in an old building. A growing Son, middleaged Mother
and Father - a pensioner. The story presents their daily routines in
the stretch of a year... This simple description can be misleading
since THE ROES'ROOM has multiple meanings.

In the XIXth century opera "emotions sang", in THE ROES'ROOM it is the
Son's soul that sings (the voice of countertenor). He is a poet. His
sensitivity creates his poetic autobiography.

On a deeper level, juxtaposing the manmade apartment with Nature
(grass grows from the floor, a snowstorm comes from the refrigerator),
THE ROES' ROOM is a story of the life and death cycle. Nature, the
final victor, will devour the walls, tables and shelves: all these
clean and even surfaces that man is so proud of.

Link:

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Reviewers' Comments (From Lech Wajewski's personal website)

"Majewski's normal multi-tasking takes on even greater dimensions in
his absolutely singular 'autobiographical film opera'. Writing
(libretto and music), directing and designing this often limpidly
beautiful 'cycle of life' parable, he conjures some remarkable images
out of an extremely contained spatial and thematic
environment...One of a kind." Gareth Evans, Time Out London

"A fantastical, haunting tale set in a house where nature fuses with -
and eventually consumes - the lives of a family." Laurence Kardish,
Senior Curator, New York Museum of Modern Art

"A modern visual arts masterpiece!" Ruben Guzman, Curator, Buenos
Aires Museum of Fine Arts

"Fascinating film. Extraordinary imagination." Pierre-Henri Deleau,
Biarritz International Festival of Audiovisual Media

"A visionary and musical poem. A profound, subtle and very original
movie." Claude Chamberlan, Montreal International Film Festival

"There is a strange, entrancing beauty to the images and music in 'The
Roe's Room'. Majewski creates striking visual tableaux that possess a
memorable, haunting quality." Brendan Kelly, Variety

"Henri Langlois Association presents two equally unique film
masterpieces at Cinema Accatone in Paris: the somber 'Film' by Samuel
Beckett, and hypnotic 'Roe's Room' by Lech Majewski." Allan Riou, Le
nouvelle Observateur

"Disturbing and visionary." Carlo Montanaro, La Nuova di Venezia


For a detailed review see:

link





http://www.filepost.com/files/m79422d1/PokojSaren.avi/

http://www.filesonic.com/file/2950141655/PokojSaren.avi

Language:Polish
Subtitles:English (hard subs)