Far from Poland (1984)

FAR FROM POLAND is probably the first American non-fiction film (Godmilow calls it a "drama-tary") to explode cinema verite's mythic claim to be the only trustworthy mode of representation for discussing the real world, and in particular, social and political issues, on film. Refused a visa to travel to Poland, "Jillski" (her Polish nickname in the film) has to literally re-invent the documentary to deal with the Polish situation and she does so with a particular eye to deconstructing not only documentary's specific claims to objectivity, but also the bourgeois audience's desire to sit comfortably in their seats, feel compassion, feel themselves part of the solution (not part of the problem) by having felt compassion for the poor oppressed Poles, who, Godmilow would argue, are far more acutely aware of their situation and what forces oppress them than the liberal American folk in the movie house.

Director: Jill Godmilow
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 106 min
Release Date:

Cast

Original Language: en

Keywords

woman director

More Films by Director: Jill Godmilow
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Far from Poland about?
FAR FROM POLAND is probably the first American non-fiction film (Godmilow calls it a "drama-tary") to explode cinema verite's mythic claim to be the only trustworthy mode of representation for discussing the real world, and in particular, social and political issues, on film. Refused a visa to travel to Poland, "Jillski" (her Polish nickname in the film) has to literally re-invent the documentary to deal with the Polish situation and she does so with a particular eye to deconstructing not only documentary's specific claims to objectivity, but also the bourgeois audience's desire to sit comfortably in their seats, feel compassion, feel themselves part of the solution (not part of the problem) by having felt compassion for the poor oppressed Poles, who, Godmilow would argue, are far more acutely aware of their situation and what forces oppress them than the liberal American folk in the movie house.
Who directed Far from Poland?
Far from Poland was directed by Jill Godmilow.
Who stars in Far from Poland?
Far from Poland stars Ruth Maleczech, Mark Margolis, Olek Krupa.
How long is Far from Poland?
Far from Poland has a runtime of 1h 46m (106 minutes).
What genre is Far from Poland?
Far from Poland is a Documentary film.