East of Paradise (2005)

East of Paradise (2005) poster

Filmmaker Lech Kowalski explores his belief that struggle is "the epitome of living" in this documentary which compares the wildly different life experiences of himself and his mother. Kowalski's mother came of age in Poland during the early stages of World War II, and after failed attempts to outrun both Nazi and Russian forces she and her family were sent to a Soviet concentration camp, where inmates were tortured, mistreated, and starved to the point where some ate their own lice in a desperate struggle to survive. Kowalski also depicts his own self-inflicted season in hell during his years on the New York City punk rock scene as he wallowed in the sordid underbelly of drug addiction, pornography, prostitution, and streetwise decadence. On both stories, Kowalski finds a message of hope and strength in the midst of almost certain peril.

Director: Lech Kowalski
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 108 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Production: Extinkt Films
Country: France
Language: English, Polski
Original Language: en

Keywords

soviet union, gulag, siberia

More Films by Director: Lech Kowalski
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is East of Paradise about?
Filmmaker Lech Kowalski explores his belief that struggle is "the epitome of living" in this documentary which compares the wildly different life experiences of himself and his mother. Kowalski's mother came of age in Poland during the early stages of World War II, and after failed attempts to outrun both Nazi and Russian forces she and her family were sent to a Soviet concentration camp, where inmates were tortured, mistreated, and starved to the point where some ate their own lice in a desperate struggle to survive. Kowalski also depicts his own self-inflicted season in hell during his years on the New York City punk rock scene as he wallowed in the sordid underbelly of drug addiction, pornography, prostitution, and streetwise decadence. On both stories, Kowalski finds a message of hope and strength in the midst of almost certain peril.
Who directed East of Paradise?
East of Paradise was directed by Lech Kowalski.
Who stars in East of Paradise?
East of Paradise stars Maria Kowalski.
How long is East of Paradise?
East of Paradise has a runtime of 1h 48m (108 minutes).
What genre is East of Paradise?
East of Paradise is a Documentary film.
Where was East of Paradise produced?
East of Paradise was produced in France.