Once There Was

(Był sobie raz)


1957   >   Animation

A breakthrough masterpiece by Walerian Borowczyk and Jan Lenica, two great artists who together revolutionized the creative process and perception of animated films.

 “Once Upon a Time” brought its creators international fame and was acclaimed with prestigious awards led by the Silver Lion at the 1957 Venice International Film Festival.

The piece is dominated by experimental visual forms which aim to convey deeper content through seemingly simple shapes and measures. A collage composed of abstract geometrical figures juxtaposed with figures cut out of newspapers accentuates the imaginary character of the presented world in which the artist can freely manipulate reality. The apparently similar shapes take on new, independent meaning through subtle changes to the arrangement of individual elements. The resulting form is nothing more than a means for expressing the creator’s intentions and thoughts.


Crew:

director
Walerian Borowczyk, Jan Lenica
d.o.p.
Edward Bryła
music
Andrzej Markowski

Awards:

Venice
The Golden Lion of Saint Mark (Experimental film)- International Short and Documentary Film Festival
Warsaw
3rd Prize- Polish Animated Film Festival (Walerian Borowczyk, Jan Lenica)
Łagów
Warsaw Mermaid- Polish Film Critics Award for Best Short Film (Walerian Borowczyk, Jan Lenica)
Mannheim
Golden Ducat- International Film Festival (Walerian Borowczyk, Jan Lenica)
Materials: HD
Length: 10’

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