Reżyser pyta o Juliusza Słowackiego
A Film Director on Juliusz Słowacki

Walerian Borowczyk’s "Blanche" (1971) as an Adaptation of "Mazepa" (1839)

Author(s): Dorota Kulczycka
Subject(s): Studies of Literature, Polish Literature, Philology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Walerian Borowczyk; Blanche; Juliusz Słowacki; Mazepa; adaptation
Summary/Abstract: The author of this article discusses the problem of the film adaptation of Juliusz Słowacki’s dramatic composition, directed in France by Walerian Borowczyk, who was at that time banned from Poland. She reflects upon the play between eros and sacrum, which is very characteristic of the Polish director, but also very different than in Słowacki’s design. She also considers the following issues: change of name and title of the work; modification of historical and geographical background; ascetic scenery (one-dimensionality and lack of pageantry like in Giotto’s paintings); functioning of things (or rather – in Borowczyk’s case – almost lack of props) and animals – different in both works: literary and cinematic.

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