Phantasm and an Attack on the Epoch. An Overview of Józef Piłsudski’s Image in Polish Feature Films in the People’s Republic of Poland
Phantasm and an Attack on the Epoch. An Overview of Józef Piłsudski’s Image in Polish Feature Films in the People’s Republic of Poland

Summary/Abstract: To the present day researchers in cinematography have not expressed any deeper interest in Józef Piłsudski. There are only texts devoted to newly released history films (such as reviews and minutes of editorial discussions in film magazines) and a few popular overview pieces. In national community’s collective experience, Marshal Józef Piłsudski invariably remains a national phantasm – an imaginary myth, a specific charism identified with the regaining of independence (“the great builder”, “the father of the independence”, “the leader of the nation”, “the great Marshall”, “the commanding officer” etc.) and the victory over the Bolsheviks in 1920 (exemplum of anti-communism). This article consists of two internally complementary parts. In the introduction the author presents the figure of Piłsudski in the interwar cinematography (1918–1939). The main part is then devoted to the analysis of three major feature films from the People’s Republic of Poland period (Death of a President, 1977, Coup d’État 1981, Polonia Restituta, 1980), in which Marshal Piłsudski is a key figure involved in the narrative about history. This part of the article focuses on the falsification of the historical picture (historical figures, events, processes), the image that in effect was far from the historical truth and in line with the guidelines of the ruling communist party. Attention is also paid to the film makers’ and scientific consultants’ entanglement in the communist system. The analysis is based on source materials (scenarios, press publications) and subject literature.

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