Escape from the Liberty Cinema [DVD]

Marczewski s anti-totalitarian satire is a darkly comic examination of censorship. Adapting the premise of Woody Allen s The Purple Rose of Cairo to late 1980s Poland, the film centres on a provincial film censor who is horrified to discover that the actors in a trite romantic weepie are refusing to perform their roles. With shades also of Keaton s Sherlock, Jr. and Bulgakov s The Master and Margarita, the film deftly combines social observation and surreal humour. Directed by one of Poland s leading intellectual - and much censored - filmmakers, this multi-awardwinning feature is a key film of the seismic political changes of 1989, and an enthusiastic manifesto for the freedom of the artist - and ultimately, of all humanity. Extras: New and exclusive interview with director Wojciech Marczewski. Booklet featuring an essay by writer, editor and film historian Michael Brooke. Presented from a superb new high-definition restoration of the film, approved by the director. New and improved English subtitle translation. "Extremely funny political comedy... Consciously influenced by Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo, it's an absurdist satire on bureaucracy and moral cowardice" Philip French, The Observer "A complex, allusive and profound examination of the nature and extensive effects of censorship... Marczewski s multi-award winning film is a refreshing, penetrating and darkly comic work of great intelligence and shrewd sagacity, and combining sharp, biting satire with a skilful exploration of some powerful and highly important themes, proved one of the key works of the political change of 1989" The Arts Shelf "A poetry of images and individual courage" István Szabó "A rich mixture of dark political satire and poetic allegory" Wally Hammond, Time Out "An exuberant attack on censorship" Variety