Polish Film Chronicle ( pl, Polska Kronika Filmowa) (1944–95) was a 10-minute-long
newsreel shown in Polish cinemas prior to the main film. It continued the traditions of the pre-war
Polish Telegraphic Agency, and in
Communist Poland was often used as
propaganda
Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded ...
tool. The chronicle was for the first time presented in Polish cinemas on December 1, 1944. It was produced biweekly by Warsaw's
Wytwornia Filmow Dokumentalnych i Fabularnych (Documentary and Feature Film Studio, WFDiF), with cooperation of Film Studio “Czolowka”.
The chronicle served as a propaganda tool of the government of the
People's Republic of Poland
The Polish People's Republic ( pl, Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa, PRL) was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1947 to 1989 as the predecessor of the modern Republic of Poland. With a population of approximately 37.9 million nea ...
. It presented current events, economy, sports and culture news, commentaries and opinion journalism, also entertainment, like private life of
Irena Szewińska. Usually one newsreel consisted of five parts, each describing a different topic. In some cases, such as official holiday (e.g.
International Workers' Day
International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on 1 May, ...
), whole newsreel was dedicated to the events of this holiday. Apart from cinemas, the chronicle was also presented in the 1960s by the
Polish Television. In few selected cases the chronicle presented news from outside of Poland, but this was rare, as it concentrated on domestic issues.
First
editor-in-chief of the Polish Film Chronicle was Jerzy Bossak, and among its speakers were such renowned actors, as
Władysław Hańcza and
Andrzej Łapicki. Among other personalities who cooperated with the chronicle were
Andrzej Munk
Andrzej Munk (16 October 1921 – 20 September 1961) was a Polish film director, screen writer and documentalist. He was one of the most influential artists of the post-Stalinist period in the People's Republic of Poland. His feature films '' Ma ...
and
Władysław Szpilman. Almost all newsreels are black and white, although already in the 1950s, first colour productions were made, with the Sovcolor technology. Among colour newsreels are those which describe events of special importance, such as 1952 construction of the
Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, 1953 reconstruction of
Warsaw Old Town, the 1000 years of Poland Parade (1966), or
Mirosław Hermaszewski’s flight (1978).
Polish Film Chronicle was cancelled at cinemas on January 1, 1995. Warsaw's Documentary and Feature Film Studio still exists, and continues to make newsreels.
Sources
Historia o historii, czyli Polska Kronika Filmowa. Polish Radio article about the chronicle. 28.01.2013
External links
1979 Polish Film Chronicle about winter of the century
Newsreels
Broadcasting in Poland
1944 establishments in Poland
1995 disestablishments in Europe
Short film series