Pisarek Family Archive

Walery Pisarek was a well-known linguist, media expert and popularizer of science. He bought a camera in the early 60s, during a business trip to Hungary, where he went as the artistic director of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Nowa Huta community centre.

Part 1 

A short shot of people getting off the plane at the airport.

Part 2 

Wierzba in Masuria, probably 1969 or 1970. The film was made during a holiday trip of the Pisarek family. Krystyna Pisarek, called by her husband Inia, and their daughter, Dorota, stand in front of the village administrator’s house. The family is on the ship Śniardwy on the lake of the same name. Dorota stands on the road bridge in Mikołajki and watches a floating sculpture of Król Sielaw (aka Stynkowy Ogier) in the shape of a big fish. Krystyna and her daughter sunbathe on a grassy beach, skip stones on the water. Dorota fools around in front of the camera and kayaks on the lake. 

Part 3 

The film was made in Cracow, probably in 1970 or 1971. Dorota and her mother watch stalls with books and flowers, set up on Cracow‘s Main Market Square. A close-up of Prof. Jerzy Mikułowski-Pomorski, who says something to Walery, who films him. Shots of buildings in Planty – Bunkier Sztuki and Pałac Sztuki galleries.

 Part 4 

The film was made in 1972 in Jaszczów, the family estate of Walery Pisarek. A shot of storks sitting on chimneys on the roof of the manor. Dorota in a swimsuit spends time in the garden. Wanda Chaciewicz, Dorota’s paternal grandmother, strokes a horse. Dorota and her uncle, Henryk Myszurski, collect fruits or vegetables into wicker baskets in the garden. The girl approaches the horse, strokes it and kisses its nostrils.

Part 5

Holiday resort in Wierzba. Smiling Dorota in a swimsuit leans out of the window of a camping house. The girl leaves the house and presents to the camera the previously-caught eel and a fishing rod. Dorota and Walery, who films the scene, are joined for a moment by Krystyna in sunglasses. 

Part 6

Nowa Huta in Cracow probably in the spring of 1972. Krystyna Pisarek and her daughter, Dorota, walk by the Dłubnia River, dance and fool around. The family is accompanied by a Rough Collie, Harda.

(AT, KN)