Augustyniak Family Archive

collection Augustyniak Family Archive
authors Stanisław Augustyniak
length 19'49
country Egypt; Germany; Yemen; Singapore
locations Alexandria, Egypt  Singapore, Singapore 
format 8 mm
color black and white
signature PAFD 0051 007
description

The author of the film is Stanisław Augustyniak (born in 1920 in Warta, died in 1997 in Gdynia). He completed seven grades of primary school and mastered several trades – he was a shoemaker, tailor, furrier, plumber, carpenter, locksmith, and knew his way around electrical installations. In 1938, he went to Warsaw hoping to continue his education, but to no avail. Eventually, he enlisted in the navy in Gdynia and in 1939 ended up on ORP “Gryf”. He participated in the September Campaign as an artillery operator and member of the crew defending the peninsula. After the capitulation, he was taken into German captivity and imprisoned in the Woldenberg camp, and then assigned to work at Paul Schwartz’s inn in Wollin. There he met his future wife, Anna Witkowska, who worked at Lehmann’s, Schwartz’s neighbor. After returning to Poland, the couple had a modest wedding, and in 1946 their only son Bolesław was born. The family moved to Gdynia, where Stanisław began working as a sailor, sailing for the next 30 years in PLO under the Polish merchant flag. His amateur 8-millimeter films come from this period, which also feature his wife Anna, who accompanied him on several sailings. After finishing his work at sea, Stanisław focused on family life, dedicating much time to his cherished allotment garden in Gdynia.
Part 1
Shots taken from the deck of the general cargo ship “Chopin”. The camera observes the seascape and sailors walking on deck. Cargo loading is in progress.
Part 2
The camera captures brief shots from a walk through the streets of Singapore. It observes, among other things, urban architecture, traffic flow, people at the market, and views of the port.
Part 3
The cameraman observes characteristic Asian boats sailing in the bay and ships moored in the port. He records the unloading of cargo.
Part 4
Views of the seascape and brief snapshots from the ship’s deck showing sailors at work. The camera also observes cargo transportation in the port.
Part 5
Shots taken during a storm. Waves are hitting the sides and flooding the deck. One can also see sailors at work: at the helm and while determining the ship’s position using a sextant.
Part 6
Brief shots from the port of Aden in Yemen: coastal landscape, moored boats, sailors at work.
Part 7
A series of shots from a walk through the port city of Aden in Yemen. The camera records streets and pedestrians. Occasionally, goats appear in the frame, walking on the streets and resting in the shade of buildings.
Part 8
Brief shots from the Suez Canal.
Part 9
A walk through Alexandria in Egypt. The camera records the city’s architecture. Later shots show minarets and men wearing thawbs.
Part 10
The final shots in the film were taken at the Kiel Canal in West Germany.

(WO)

keywords sailor  ship  boat  sailboat  port  sea  storm  city  streets  car 
source of funding Polish Film Institute