Drozdow Family Archive

The author of the film is Ewa Drozdow, who filmed travels and important events in her family life with a Quarz camera, bought in a photo shop on ul. Piotrkowska in Łódź. Ewa, who works as a textile engineer, in her free time edited her films, diversifying them with plastic boards that she created from cardboard and string.

The film was made during a business trip at the invitation of the London sales office in 1980. Flight by plane, shots from a moving car. A busy street, a passing man smiles and waves at the camera. Shots of London’s streets, especially architecture. Sightseeing the city – the British Museum, close-ups of the tympanum above the entrance to the building, Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery visible in the background, Nelson’s Column, Admiralty Arch, Victoria Memorial, Buckingham Palace, a close-up of one of the royal guardsmen in a characteristic red uniform and black hat, golden entrance gate to the palace. Ewa passes through the decorative gate, walks towards the camera and smiles at her colleague filming her. Further sightseeing of the city – Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey. Ewa walks along the Westminster Bridge, shots of the Thames and the city from the bridge. Shots of the façade of The Household Cavalry Museum and cars parked in the square in front of the building. Busy streets of London. The royal Rolls Royce drives down the street. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, together with Prince Philip, enters the building, in front of which there are security guards and several photojournalists. More royal cars drive up to the building. Guests entering the building are greeted by officials. A shot of the parked Rolls Royces near the building. Ewa and her friend saw Elizabeth II on their way to a business meeting, to which they were late because of the closed streets prepared for the Queen’s passage. Sightseeing the Tower of London. Ewa poses in front of the camera together with the castle guard in a black and red outfit. A walk through Tower Bridge to Tower Hill Memorial, a close-up of the Port of London Authority. A bus ride through the city, shots of the passing streets and the buildings such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and the National Gallery. A drive through Piccadilly Circus. A walk in Hyde Park – a break at Wellington Arch and Speakers’ Corner, where a man with a flag speaks surrounded by listeners and police officers. Shots of London streets, characteristic double-deckers, Liberty shop. A visit to a market, people strolling between stalls with diverse products, close-ups of customers and some stalls. The façade of the Palace Theatre with metal letters on the façade informing about the performance of Jesus Christ Superstar. People passing through Piccadilly Circus. Evening shots of colorful neon lights. Ewa poses at the fountain. Driving through the suburbs. A flight, shots of clouds, landing in Warsaw’s Okęcie. 

(AT)