Oparowscy Family Archive

Maria Oparowska, Zygmunt Oparowski, Wanda (their daughter), Lech (their son); Kazimierz Oporowski (Zygmunt’s father); Czesław Ilnicki with his wife, Mariusz (their son) and Gosia (their daughter); Zosia Zaród (Zygmunt’s sister) and Franciszek Zaród (her husband); Mirosław Oparowski (Zygmunt’s brother) with his family, Sławomir Oparowski (Mirosław’s son).

The author of the film is Zygmunt Oparowski, an engineer, a builder of two smelter plants: Huta Częstochowa and Huta Katowice. He started making films at the end of the 1950s.

A visit to the Ilnicki family (the cousins), in Lublin and the area. Czesław Ilnicki’s country house near Lublin. Hens stroll around the yard. We can see Kazimierz Oporowski, Zygmunt’s father, bent over. Czesław Ilnicki gives Kazimierz photographs and they look at them together. They are accompanied by Leszek and Franciszek Zaród – Kazimierz’s son-in-laws. A shot of a departing car (Trabant). A view through the rear window at the hosts waving goodbye. Lublin. Mr and Mrs Oparowski and Ilnicki visit Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. A close-up of the monument with the inscription: “Marie Curie-Skłodowska University named after her and society”. Scenes from a family meeting on the occasion of Gosia Ilnicka’s baptism in the Ilnicki family’s apartment in Lublin. A close-up of Mariusz, Czesław’s son. At the set table, we can see talking and laughing guests, the Oparowski and Ilnicki families. Wanda holds Mariusz on her lap. A close-up of a crying Gosia in a white blanket. Wanda sits at the table and holds Gosia in her arms. We can see plates with cold cuts and bottles of alcohol set on the table. Shots of guests, among them, there are: Leszek, Maria and Wanda Oparowski, Sławomir Oparowski, Zofia and Franciszek Zaród. A visit to Mirosław, Zygmunt Oparowski’s brother, in PGR (State Agricultural Farm) near Kraśnik. In front of the house, we see Mirosław with his son and Kazimierz Oporowski. Scenes from a family walk. The walk among the trees, by the water. Young people enter a narrow pier on a pond. Kazimierz stands by the shore. A walk along an avenue. In the foreground, we see Kazimierz with his sons, Zygmunt and Mirosław. The yard in front of the house. Wanda and Leszek stroke a white rabbit. The dog scares the rabbit. 1964. A summer trip to a holiday resort in Dziadówki. On a fence, there is a sign: “Recreation Center of the Częstochowa Industrial Construction Company”. We can see Leszek in front of one of the houses. A panorama of the resort, camping houses among the trees. Maria comes out of a house, carries a pot and a plate and puts them on a tourist table, next to which, there is a bench. Wanda and her friend sit on the back of the bench. Scenes from the resort: a woman pours water into a bucket, children swing on swings, an elderly man spins children on a carousel. A wooden board with lifebuoys hanging under the inscription “rescue equipment”. A board with the inscription: “do not leave your child by the water”. A view of the lake, swimming area marked with buoys, a pier, and kayakers. The area of the resort. A group of people play football. Maria stands in front of a parked bus. Through the open door, we can see children sitting inside. A view of the lake, then of the bench on the shore. Maria, sitting on it, waves at the camera. The boy swims on a large, black, inflatable wheel, rowing with a stick. Częstochowa. Aleja Najświętszej Marii Panny running to Jasna Góra Monastery. The tomb of the unknown soldier. Maria and Zygmunt stop in front of a booth with devotional articles. Maria and Leszek go and have ice cream on a stick. Soldiers walk along the avenue. In the distance, we can see the tower of Jasna Góra Basilica. The film was made on 1st May 1966, due to the celebration of the 750th anniversary of Częstochowa combined with the celebration of the millennium of Polish statehood. The streets of Częstochowa are decorated with flags. A police car passes. Numerous commemorative banners. A board with the inscription “Peace – Tranquility”. There is an inscription: “Science, Work, Socialism” on a building. Near the building with the banner “1000 years of the Polish state”, a parade with banners is set up. The parade moves on. A group of women goes to the front, then men with white and red flags, followed by a group in historical costumes. A view of the streets of Częstochowa, buildings, a square with a fountain. A car passes by through the parade. Men in historical costumes with a banner “1863” stand on its platform. Behind the car, people carry the banner “People’s Poland honours the 1000-year history of the Polish State”.

(PB)