Jan Fethke (26 February 1903 – 16 December 1980) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

- Polish film director and, under the pen name Jean Forge, a successful author. He also was a famous proponent of the language

Esperanto Esperanto ( or ) is the world's most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Created by the Warsaw-based ophthalmologist L. L. Zamenhof in 1887, it was intended to be a universal second language for international communic ...

Life

Born in Oppeln,

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. S ...

, Jan Fethke attended Oppeln's grammar school. Together with his brothers Stefan and Edmond, Fethke learned

in 1919, when aged sixteen. After leaving grammar school, he edited the periodical ''Esperanto Triumfonta'' for several years. Between 1923 and 1924 studied at Technical University of Danzig and worked for a local newspaper before moving to

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitu ...

. In 1921, aged 18, he penned his first novel, the German language ''Der ausgestopfte Papagei'' (''The Stuffed Parrot''). After 1923, he wrote his novels in Esperanto and used the pseudonym ''Jean Forge''. His most important Esperanto works are '' Abismoj'' (''Abysses'', 1923), '' Saltego trans jarmiloj'' (''A Leap across the Millennia'', 1924) and '' Mr. Tot Aĉetas Mil Okulojn'' (''Mr. Tot Buys a Thousand Eyes'', 1931), which have been translated into several languages. His books were inventive, rich in ideas, and a witty representative of enjoyable light literature with a talent for psychological observation and a precise knowledge of effects. After moving to Berlin in 1928, Fethke worked as a writer and assistant for

Ufa Ufa ( ba, Өфө , Öfö; russian: Уфа́, r=Ufá, p=ʊˈfa) is the largest city and capital city, capital of Bashkortostan, Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Belaya River (Kama), Belaya and Ufa River, Ufa rivers, in the centre-n ...

. His most successful films were ''Mutter Krausens Fahrt ins Glück'' (''Mommy Krause's Trip into Happiness'') and ''Jenseits der Straße'' (''On the Far Side of the Street''), for which he wrote the screenplay. At Ufa, he also made the acquaintance of

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary '' Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. ...

, who later used his ''Mr. Tot'' novel for his last film, '' The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse'' (1960). He also continued his work in Esperanto. In 1932 began to teach courses in Sweden, using the Cseh-method. In 1934 he dubbed the German film ''Morgen beginnt das Leben'' (''Life will Start Tomorrow'') into Esperanto and, under the title ''Morgaŭ ni komencos la vivon'', exhibited during the 26th World Esperanto Congress in Stockholm. After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, Fethke achieved fame as a film director in Poland. In 1960, he moved to

West Berlin West Berlin (german: Berlin (West) or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin during the years of the Cold War. Although West Berlin was de jure not part of West Germany, lacked any sovereignty, and was under mi ...

. He was a collaborator of the review ''

Literatura Mondo ''Literatura Mondo'' (''Literary World'') was a literary Esperanto periodical and publishing house in Budapest, Hungary between 1922 and 1949. It became the focal point of the so-called Budapest School of Esperanto literature. It was founded by ...

'' (''Literary World'') and many other periodicals.

Selected works

Novels

* '' Abismoj'' (''Abysses''), 1923 * '' Saltego trans Jarmiloj'' (''A Leap across the Millennia''), 1924 * '' Mr. Tot Aĉetas Mil Okulojn'' (''Mr. Tot Buys a Thousand Eyes''), 1931

Collection of novellas

* '' La verda raketo'' ("The green rocket") 1961 * '' Mia verda breviero'' ("My green prayer book"), 1974

Films

*''

Mother Krause's Journey to Happiness ''Mother Krause's Journey to Happiness '' (German: ''Mutter Krausens Fahrt ins Glück'') is a 1929 German silent drama film directed by Phil Jutzi and starring Alexandra Schmitt, Holmes Zimmermann and Ilse Trautschold. The film was produced ...

'', 1929 (screenplay). * '' Beyond the Street'' (1929) (screenplay together with Willy Döll). *'' Schön ist es, verliebt zu sein'', 1933/34 (screenplay). *'' Carlos schönstes Abenteuer'', 1934 (screenplay). *''Morgaŭ ni komencos la vivon'', an Esperanto version of '' Morgen beginnt das Leben'', 1934 (dubbing). *', 1935 (screenplay). *', 1935 (screenplay). *'' Papa się żeni'', 1936 (screenplay) *''

Dodek na froncie ''Dodek na froncie'' is a 1936 Polish comedy film directed by Michał Waszyński. Cast *Adolf Dymsza ... Dodek Wedzonka * Alicja Halama ... Zofia Majewska * Mieczysław Cybulski ... Lt. Jerzy Majewski * Helena Grossówna ... Zuzia, the m ...

'', 1936 (screenplay) *'' Robert i Bertrand'', 1938 (screenplay) *'' Zapomniana melodia'', 1938 (directed together with

Konrad Tom Konrad Tom (9 April 1887 – 9 August 1957), born Konrad Runowiecki, a Polish Jewish actor, writer, singer and director, born in Warsaw. Wrote song lyrics in Polish and in Yiddish for stage, film and cabaret, including '' szmonces''. His wife was ...

) *''

Bogurodzica ] Bogurodzica (, calque of the Greek term ''Theotokos''), in English known as the Mother of God, is a medieval Roman Catholic hymn composed sometime between the 10th and 13th centuries in Poland. It is believed to be the oldest religious hymn or ...

'', 1939 (director) *'' Przez łzy do szczęścia'', 1939 (director, screenplay) *'' Złota Maska'', 1939/40 (director, screenplay) *'' Bravo, kleiner Thomas'', 1943/44 (director). *'' Ulica graniczna'', 1948 (screenplay) *'' Załoga'', 1951 (director, screenplay) *'' Sprawa do załatwienia'', 1953 (director, screenplay) * ''

Irena do domu! ''Irena do domu!'' ( ''Irene, Go Home!'') is a 1955 Polish comedy film directed by Jan Fethke. Cast * Lidia Wysocka − Irena Majewska * Adolf Dymsza − Zygmunt Majewski * Michał Kiliński − Janek Majewski, their son * Helena Buczyńska ...

'', 1955 (director). * ''

Der schweigende Stern ''Milcząca Gwiazda'' (german: Der schweigende Stern), literal English translation ''The Silent Star'', is a 1960 East German/Polish color science fiction film based on the 1951 science fiction novel ''The Astronauts'' by Polish science fiction wri ...

'' (''Milcząca gwiazda''), 1959 (screenplay), an

East German East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

-Polish co-production.

External links

*
Jan Fethke
works in Österreichische Nationalbibliothek {{DEFAULTSORT:Fethke, Jan 1903 births 1980 deaths Polish male writers German male writers Writers of Esperanto literature Polish film directors Polish screenwriters German male screenwriters Polish people of German descent People from the Province of Silesia People from Opole German Esperantists Polish Esperantists 20th-century German screenwriters