Małanicz Family Archive

collection Małanicz Family Archive
authors Eugeniusz Małanicz
starring Ludwika Małanicz
length 15'51
country Poland
locations Giby, Poland 
format 8 mm
color black and white
signature PAFD 0039 118
description

Eugeniusz Małanicz was born in 1904 in Zelczyn. He was an electrical engineer by education, and a passionate moviegoer and collector of films and film cameras. In 1925, he founded a travelling cinema “Oaza”, touring the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. Although the business went bankrupt after a year, the passion for cinematography remained with Eugeniusz until his death. In December 1939, he moved with his family to Warsaw and settled in Saska Kępa. An important place in his life was Giby – a village in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, to which he traveled from the 40s. There he rested, kayaked and took pictures. Eugeniusz died in Giby in 1982, and the hood of his beloved car (Hansa) rested on his tombstone.
Part 1
The film begins with shots of a priest delivering a homily during Mass. Then, it shows the facade of an old wooden church, where worshippers are watching a solemn procession. At one point, the camera shows Ludwika Małanicz – Eugeniusz’s wife – with a turkey on a country road.
Part 2
The scenes take place in the garden in front of the Małanicz family’s summer cabin in Giby. A young girl is lying in an openwork stroller. The family is having dinner. In one of the shots, next to the house, there is a windmill constructed by Eugeniusz to power the house with electricity.
Part 3
A woman is playing with a child in the lake.
Part 4
The vehicle blessing ceremony on St. Christopher’s Day, the patron saint of drivers. A crowd of worshippers with motorcycles and bicycles is waiting for the priest in front of the church.
Part 5
Scenes at the summer cabin. Men are trying to move a car. The family is relaxing at the table.
Part 6
Scenes by the lake. The camera observes a rowing boat, a small sailboat, and a kayak.

Part 7

A man presents the windmill – an electrical generator powering the summer cabin. Then, it is being dismantled.

Part 8

A woman and a man are watching a young stork. At one point, the bird runs up to the woman and clearly tries to get her attention, and she affectionately strokes its head and chest.

Part 9

Various short shots from the summer cabin. The family is standing on a pier over the lake, one of the children is observing the other shore through binoculars. Three elderly people are talking in front of the house – the women (including Ludwika Małanicz) are eating ice cream, and the man is smoking a cigarette. A little girl is presenting a doll to the camera. Later, the vacationers are eating soup on the doorstep.

Part 10

A man is repairing the roof on the summer cabin. At the end of the shot, one can see a windmill – an electrical generator that was mounted on the cabin’s facade.

(WO, AT)

keywords church  procession  priest  Corpus Christi  Mass  child  girl  bicycle  motorcycle  sailboat  boat  kayak  stork  windmill  summer house  family  generator 
source of funding Polish Film Institute