Antoni Bohdziewicz
Encyclopedia
Antoni Bohdziewicz was a Polish
screenplay writer and director, best known for his 1956 adaptation of Zemsta
by Aleksander Fredro
.
Bohdziewicz was born in the city of Wilno, then part of the Russian Empire. In 1928, he graduated from the Technical Faculty of the Warsaw University of Technology
and was simultaneously studying at the Faculty of Humanities of the Stefan Batory University (now Vilnius University). In 1928, he became a speaker at the newly-established branch of the Polish Radio in his native town. In 1931 however he obtained a state scholarship and left for France. In Paris he joined the prestigious Ecole Technique de Photographie et de Cinématographie, where he also made his first documentaries.
In 1935, he returned to Poland and worked as a journalist and cameraman for the state-owned Polska Agencja Telegraficzna Film Chronicle (PAT), the most popular newsreel
in Poland. He also worked as a journalist and columnist for the "Pion" weekly. In late 1930s he made numerous documentaries for the PAT agency, as well as for the SAF film studio. In 1939, he began working on his first feature film
Zazdrość i medycyna, based on a novel by Michał Choromański. However, the shooting was interrupted by the outbreak of the Invasion of Poland (1939)
.
During World War II
he was an active member of the Home Army and collaborated with the Bureau of Information and Propaganda as the head of the photo and film department. In 1943, he also started a Tres photographic studio in Warsaw, which became a clandestine outpost of the Home Army. During the Warsaw Uprising
he became the head of the group of cameramen to prepare daily newsreels and was one of the people to prepare Warszawa walczy, a documentary filmed and shown entirely in besieged Warsaw.
After the war he continued his career in the same role and became one of the first members of the Polish Film Chronicle (PKF) company. Working in Kraków
, already in March 1945 he started a Film Atelier for the Youth, the first film school
to be opened in Poland after the end of the German occupation. In December of that year he converted his atelier into a regular study, which became a direct predecessor of the Kraków Film School. In 1948 he moved to Łódź, where he became the chairman of the Department of Direction of the National Film School. In that role he became a teacher of several generations of Polish film directors.
He also remained an active director himself. His first film, 2*2=4, was released already in 1945 and was among the first feature films to be shot in Poland after World War II. Between 1956 and 1962 Bohdziewicz served as an artistic director of the Droga Film Team and then the TOR Film Studio (1968–1970). Simultaneously he was also a teacher at the Brussels
-based Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle. He died October 20, 1970 in Warsaw.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
screenplay writer and director, best known for his 1956 adaptation of Zemsta
Zemsta
Zemsta is a Polish comedy by Aleksander Fredro.-The Play:Real events inspired Fredro to write the play. In November of 1828, Fredro married Zofia Skotnicka, whose dowry included the title to half of a castle located in Odrzykon in the province of Galicia...
by Aleksander Fredro
Aleksander Fredro
Aleksander Fredro was a Polish poet, playwright and author.-Life:Count Aleksander Fredro, of the Bończa coat of arms, was born in the village of Surochów near Jarosław, then a crown territory of Austria. A landowner's son, he was educated at home. He entered the Polish army at age 16 and saw...
.
Bohdziewicz was born in the city of Wilno, then part of the Russian Empire. In 1928, he graduated from the Technical Faculty of the Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology
The Warsaw University of Technology is one of the leading institutes of technology in Poland, and one of the largest in Central Europe. It employs 2,453 teaching faculty, with 357 professors . The student body numbers 36,156 , mostly full-time. There are 17 faculties covering almost all fields of...
and was simultaneously studying at the Faculty of Humanities of the Stefan Batory University (now Vilnius University). In 1928, he became a speaker at the newly-established branch of the Polish Radio in his native town. In 1931 however he obtained a state scholarship and left for France. In Paris he joined the prestigious Ecole Technique de Photographie et de Cinématographie, where he also made his first documentaries.
In 1935, he returned to Poland and worked as a journalist and cameraman for the state-owned Polska Agencja Telegraficzna Film Chronicle (PAT), the most popular newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
in Poland. He also worked as a journalist and columnist for the "Pion" weekly. In late 1930s he made numerous documentaries for the PAT agency, as well as for the SAF film studio. In 1939, he began working on his first feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Zazdrość i medycyna, based on a novel by Michał Choromański. However, the shooting was interrupted by the outbreak of the Invasion of Poland (1939)
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was an active member of the Home Army and collaborated with the Bureau of Information and Propaganda as the head of the photo and film department. In 1943, he also started a Tres photographic studio in Warsaw, which became a clandestine outpost of the Home Army. During the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
he became the head of the group of cameramen to prepare daily newsreels and was one of the people to prepare Warszawa walczy, a documentary filmed and shown entirely in besieged Warsaw.
After the war he continued his career in the same role and became one of the first members of the Polish Film Chronicle (PKF) company. Working in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, already in March 1945 he started a Film Atelier for the Youth, the first film school
Film school
The term film school is used to describe any educational institution dedicated to teaching aspects of filmmaking, including such subjects as film production, film theory, digital media production, and screenwriting. Film history courses and hands-on technical training are usually incorporated into...
to be opened in Poland after the end of the German occupation. In December of that year he converted his atelier into a regular study, which became a direct predecessor of the Kraków Film School. In 1948 he moved to Łódź, where he became the chairman of the Department of Direction of the National Film School. In that role he became a teacher of several generations of Polish film directors.
He also remained an active director himself. His first film, 2*2=4, was released already in 1945 and was among the first feature films to be shot in Poland after World War II. Between 1956 and 1962 Bohdziewicz served as an artistic director of the Droga Film Team and then the TOR Film Studio (1968–1970). Simultaneously he was also a teacher at the Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
-based Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle. He died October 20, 1970 in Warsaw.