NASFETER, JANUSZ

(1920-1998)

Director and scriptwriter renowned for his children's films, Nasfeter established himself with films such asSmall Dramas(Małe dramaty, 1958) andColored Stockings(Kolorowe pończochy, 1960). Later he continued to write and direct films, primarily addressed to children but with a universal meaning, such asAbel, Your Brother(Abel, twój brat, 1970),Butterflies(Motyle, 1973), andMy War, My Love(Moja wojna, moja miłość, 1975). Mostly known as the master of films for young adults, for which he received several international festival awards, Nasfeter was, however, a versatile filmmaker.In the 1960s, he succeeded in making partisan war filmThe Wounded in the Forest(Ranny w lesie, 1964), psychological war dramaWeekend with a Girl(Weekend z dziewczyną, 1968), as well as crime filmThe Criminal and the Maiden(Zbrodniarz i panna, 1963), starringEwa KrzyżewskaandZbigniew Cybulski. Nasfeter'sHolocaustdrama,The Long Night(Długa noc), produced in 1967, was immediately shelved by the authorities and not released until 1989.Unloved(Niekochana, 1966), Nasfeter's film based on Adolf Rudnicki's short story, remains one of his most interesting works. The film deals with the unhappy, obsessive, and damaging love of a Jewish woman, Noemi (Elżbieta Czyżewska), for a Polish fine arts student. Set just hours before the outbreak of World War II and told in flashbacks, the film portrays the story of the lovers' separations and reunions and Noemi's mental breakdown.

Other films:Two Brigades(Dwie brygady, 1950),My Old Man(Mój stary, 1962),This Cruel, Villainous Boy(Ten okrutny, nikczemny chłopak, 1972),Queen of Bees(Królowa pszczół, 1977),To Dream within a Dream(Śnić we śnie, 1979).