Synopsis

Forty five years of marriage is an impressive anniversary. Barbara and Zdzisław could be proud of themselves if not for the fact that the husband left the wife for his lover eight years ago. But now they are together again, although Barbara claims that if it were not for his infirm legs, Zdzisław would still be chasing skirts around Kraków. Despite the past resentment, everyday problems with paying bills, an occupied bathroom and rearranging furniture, they have a hard to define bond.

Director

• 

  Zofia Kowalewska
  

  Close Ties (2016)

  Close ties is a film about my grandparents. When I was 18, I caught on camera a two-hour argument which began when my grandfather purchased a drying rack and an ironing board without his wife’s permission. The situation, which at first seemed absurd and trivial, was concluded when my grandma Barbara told her husband: “You came back after 8 years of living with another woman and want to rearrange my entire home”. After this, they sat down and ate their dinner in silence. It was at this moment that I felt this was a story worth telling.
  As I was growing up, I observed many relationships which fell apart. It was particularly painful to see my own parents go through a turbulent divorce. My grandparents, unlike many other couples, chose to be together again after 8 years of separation. Their courage to try again was somewhat confusing to me, but also very moving. I was curious to see whether two people that once broke up can create a lasting bond again.
  I am extremely grateful to my grandparents for their trust, courage and openness during the shooting of my film. Together with my film crew, I spent many days in their small apartment in Cracow. I was aiming to create a simple and natural film, focused on the emotions resulting from everyday interactions between the grandparents in their tiny living space. It was important to me and my cinematographer, Weronika Bilska, to follow not only situations of conflict, but for the camera to observe moments in which the characters compromise. We used static, long shots to let the audience delve further into the world they observe. The use of long camera lens enabled us to shoot a very intimate story in a tiny apartment without overwhelming the characters.
  As I was observing my grandparents in a very difficult period in their lives, I wanted to make sure the camera was a sensitive observer. I did not want to judge them, or assume anyone’s blame. I believe that difficult topics should be addressed lightly, humorously, with a lot of faith in the characters.

Review

What is marriage? Whether the life is full of joy or difficult, sad or happy, is it something getting through everything together? 8 years ago, Zdzislaw left his wife Barbara for his new love, but this couple decides to get back to the life being together.
But the relationship never gets better by itself nor maintains good state. Zdzislaw holds their 45th wedding anniversary in order to settle the relationship down for each other. (In fact, he knew it is 40th) Barbara asks, “What’s the point of celebrating anniversaries? For whom?” but she yells at his husband behind the wall for preparation, “Write it down, I know what kind.”
This couple has been standing having a wall between them as a border or standing far from each other in a small room or the kitchen, all this time, but at the 45th anniversary party, these two finally sit side by side. Zdzislaw reads his letter to Barbara asking for forgiveness while tries to make the party full of touching moments and hopes for the future. However, just like the wit and bitterness these two shared when they narrowly hover around each other’s borders, Zdzislaw’s letter that he slowly reads with blurred eyes is at stake and when the phone rings, the honesty of the letter seems to be disappearing. But Barbara accepts her husband’s apology with tears. After that party, can these two find different morning from the previous mornings? [Kim Min-ju]

Credits

• Director  Zofia Kowalewska
• Producer  Ewa Jastrzebska
• Cinematographer  Weronika Bilska
• Editor  Jerzy Zawadzki

Contribution & World Sales

• Contribution & World Sales  Krakow Film Foundation
• Phone  48 122946945
• E-mail  katarzyna.wilk@kff.com.pl