Screening courtesy of WFDiF, on the occasion of Andrzej Wajda’s 100th birth anniversary in 2026
After the death of his friend, Wiktor Ruben returns to the countryside to visit the place he frequented in his youth – his uncle’s house and the neighboring homes of the eponymous maids of Wilko. There, he finds them all gathered together. Walks, shared meals, memories, and crossing the river unfold in a contemplative search for lost time, in a world that seems both familiar and suspended beyond it.
CLASSICAL FILM SELECTION
THE MAIDS OF WILKO
English title:
The Maids of Wilko
Original title:
Panny z Wilka
Director:
Andrzej Wajda
Country:
Poland, France
Genre:
fiction
Year:
1979
Length:
116’
Cast:
Daniel Olbrychski, Anna Seniuk, Christine Pascal, Maja Komorowska, Stanisława Celińska
A quote for the film:
One returns to places, but never to the same time.
Selective list of festivals and awards:
Academy Awards (1980): Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Gdynia Film Festival (Polish Film Festival) 1979: Special Prize of the Jury, Best Production Design (Allan Starski and Maria Osiecka-Kuminek). Gdynia Film Festival (1981): Audience Seat for the Polish film with the most viewers.
Director’s bio:
Andrzej Wajda (1926–2016) was a towering figure of Polish cinema and a leading member of the unofficial "Polish Film School" (circa 1955–1963). Celebrated for his powerful storytelling and visual mastery, he crafted a series of landmark films including A Generation (1954), Kanał (1956), and Ashes and Diamonds (1958). Four of his works were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, including The Maids of Wilko (1979), a poignant exploration of memory, time, and lost love. Awarded an honorary Oscar, Wajda left an indelible mark on world cinema, creating films that resonate across generations.
