Buda Family Archive

Zygmunt Buda was born in Poznań in 1924 and was interested in photography since his childhood. From 1941, he worked in the Poznań photographic company Foto-Stewner, founded by Ernest Stewner. After the end of the war, he worked as a photographer in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, from which, in the 50s, he was dismissed for political incorrectness. From the 60s, he worked in the Film Services Department at the corner of Marszałkowska and Krucza streets in Warsaw. Zygmunt recorded films with a business camera with a 16-millimeter tape and a private SANYO camera with an 8-millimeter tape, which he received as a gift from a family living in the USA. His sons, Jacek and Marek, as well as the next generations of the Buda family, also became enthusiasts of filming family life.The film was made by Jacek Buda in 1992. It shows the childhood of Piotr, Irmina and Jacek Buda’s son.

 Part 1

Dance camp in Sławno. Piotr and his partner, Kasia Niska, play in the sand by the lake.They fool around in the water with other children. Later, they stand by the shore wrapped in towels. A shot before the way back to Warsaw: the participants of the camp stand in a row on a sandy square.

Part 2

Scenes from the apartment of the Buda family after Piotr’s return home from the camp. 

Part 3 

Celebration of Piotr’s ninth birthday in Groty. The family is at the table on the terrace. The birthday boy blows candles on the birthday cake. The gathered guests are: Elizka (a neighbour), Ania with her son (Michał) in her arms, Magda (Ania’s older daughter), Mrs. Marysia (Piotr’s nanny), Irmina and Katarzyna (Jacek’s mother). 

Part 4

Krynica Morska. Zygmunt and Katarzyna (Jacek’s parents) together with their grandchildren (Piotr, Paweł and Michał) sit at a wooden table in a fish and chip shop and eat fish. Paweł, Piotr and Daniel (son of Jacek’s cousin, Jola) sit in a large pit dug on the beach, play in the sand and climb a wooden boat located on the beach. Marek sits Michał, the youngest of the boys, on a boat. Piotr and Paweł, with sticks in their hands, come out of the hut in the forest and march in front of the camera like soldiers. Tonia, Katarzyna Buda’s sister and a former kindergarten teacher, plays on the beach with Michał. The other children play, watched over by their grandfather, Zygmunt. Daniel and Paweł swim in the sea on a mattress, then dry on a blanket wrapped in towels and bathrobes. Marek and his son, Michał, play with buckets. Piotr and Paweł dive into the sea. The family spends time in the water and rests on the beach.

 Part 5

The beginning of the school year 1992/1993, elegantly dressed children sit in a school classroom.

 Part 6

A trip to Zalesie Górny. Irmina with Piotr and his classmate, Michał Miszczyk, have sandwiches on a bench. Then Irmina and the boys are in a boat on the lake.

Part 7

Autumn. The Buda family walks in the Royal Baths Park in Warsaw.

 Part 8

Piotr sits on the floor next to a festively dressed Christmas tree.

(AT)