THE LAST FAMILY
Ostatnia rodzina
Directed by Jan P. Matuszyński
Poland | 2016 | 123 min | biopic, drama | Polish
Beksiński is a gentle man with arachnophobia, despite his hardcore sexual fantasies and his fondness for painting disturbing dystopian works. Beksiński is a family man who wants only the best for his loving wife Zofia, neurotic son Tomasz and the couple’s aging mothers. His daily painting to classical music eventually pays off and he makes a name for himself in contemporary art. Good Catholic woman Zofia tries to hold the family together, but troubled son Tomasz proves to be a handful with his violent outbursts and suicidal threats. Their relief is brief when he starts dating women and becomes a radio presenter and movie translator, and the concerned parents must be on constant watch to prevent their son from hur ting himself. But Beksiński never believed that family life would always be sunshine and rainbows. As he tapes everything with his beloved camcorder, the 28-year Beksiński saga unfolds through paintings, near-death experiences, dance music trends and funerals… Based on the bizarre true story of the cult Polish painter Zdzisław Beksiński. First narrative feature from the director of the award-winning documentary DEEP LOVE.
Cast & Crew
Director: Jan P. Matuszyński
Screenplay: Robert Bolesto
Cinematography: Kacper Fertacz
Editing: Przemysław Chruścielewski
Cast: Andrzej Seweryn (Zdzisław Beksiński), Dawid Ogrodnik (Tomasz Beksiński), Aleksandra Konieczna (Zofia Beksińska), Andrzej Chyra (Piotr Dmochowski)
Producers: Leszek Bodzak (Aurum Film), Aneta Hickinbotham (Aurum Film)
Co-production companies: HBO Europe, Mazovia Film Fund, Lightcraft, Universal Music Poland
Jan P. MatuszyńskiPoland
Festivals & Awards
Locarno Film Festival – Best Actor – Andrzej Seweryn
Camerimage – Best Polish Film
Vilnius International Film Festival – Best Film in New Europe New Names
Chicago International Film Festival – Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction
Cottbus – Best Debut, Outstanding Actor – Dawid Ogrodnik
Denver Film Festival – Krzysztof Kieślowski Award for Best Feature Film
Gdynia Film Festival – Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Audience Award, Journalists Award
Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival – Grand Prize
Molodist – Best Film
Polish Film Festival in America Special Jury Prize
Tofifest – Best Polish Film
Warsaw Film Festival – Best Polish Film in Warsaw Screenings
Cinergia – Best Actor – Andrzej Seweryn
Spirit of Fire – Silver Taiga, Journalists Prize
Sofia International Film Festival – Special Jury Award
press quotes
revival of Polish cinema
Le Monde
Deliciously subversive opening instantly grabs attention. Exceptional camerawork and an unerring eye for period detail are boldly on display in Jan P. Matuszyński’s disturbing biopic of one of Poland’s best known 20th century painters.
Visually and musically reproducing the era to a T, and boasting terrific lensing.
Variety
This film is not about explaining life, but documenting its weirdness. Story of a profoundly dysfunctional family, sometimes too far-fetched to believe, but all based on real facts which have been thoroughly researched for years.
Screen International
