A DEAD MARRIAGE

A DEAD MARRIAGE

MARTWE MAŁŻEŃSTWO

Directed by Michal Toczek
Poland | 18 min | 2022 | Polish

Filip works as a professional movie extra, and he always plays roles of dead bodies. On the set of a historical film, he meets Lucy, who also happens to be an extra, playing a role of a dead woman.
Whilst laying on top of each other during long filmmaking hours a bittersweet relationship develops between them in the unusual circumstances.

Credits

Director: Michał Toczek
Screenplay: Ola Hulbój, Michał Toczek
Cinematographer: Tomasz Pawlik
Editor: Aleksandra Kasprowicz
Music: Pimon Lekler
Art Design: Katarzyna Tomczyk
Costumes: Bogumiła Bibel
Production Managers: Klaudia Preyss, Katarzyna Stasiełuk

Cast: Sebastian Stankiewicz, Marta Ścisłowicz, Ernest Lorek, Mikołaj Trynda, Aleksandra Piotrowska
Produced by: The Polish National Film School in Łódź
Co-financed by: The Polish Film Institute

  • Michał Toczek
    Michał Toczek

Festivals & Awards

Krakow Film Festival 2022 | Official Selection

Vilnius International Film Festival (Kino Pavasaris) 2023 | Official Selection

Palm Springs International ShortFest 2023 | Winner: Best Student International Short

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Michał Toczek

Director and screenwriter. Author of short films presented and awarded in Poland and international as well as public awareness campaigns and commercials. Michal studied directing at the Polish National Film School in Lodz. His student short fiction „A Dead Marriage” received many awards at Polish film festivals – such as Silver Hobby Horse at Cracow Film Festival, Grand Prix of the Short Film Competition at WAMA Festival in Olsztyn and several other prizes and honorable mentions on festivals like „Two Riversides” in Kazimierz Dolny, „The Youth and Film” in Koszalin and many more. The film was also shown at the international festivals, e.g. in Leuven and Tirana.

Michal gained experience by working as the 2nd director on set of „My Wonderful Life” a film by Lukasz Grzegorzek and „Elephant” by Kamil Krawczycki. His documentary debut „Strawberry boys” was presented on festivals in Poland and international, was awarded with Best Editing Award at Cracow Film Festival and an honourable mention at Lubuskie Film Summer in Lagow. In 2021 he received a Best Directing Award with Ola Hulboj for their film in Branded Stories Papaya Young Directors Competition. Michal developed his storytelling skills by working as a reporter for Gazeta Wyborcza during his studies. What he appreciates in Cinema the most is a sensitive approach towards the characters of the movie and witty humour. He considers Ken Loach and Mike Leigh his masters in directing.