O melancholii święta
On Melancholy of a Celebration

Summary/Abstract: In her reflections on the melancholy dimension of celebration, the author analyses four films: “The Hours” (2002) by Stephen Daldry, “Margot at the Wedding” (2007) by Noah Baumbach, “Rachel Getting Married” (2008) by Jonathan Demme and “Melancholia” (2011) by Lars von Trier. In each of these productions, Korczarowska clearly identifies the melancholy character of the plot and features of the main characters. The analytical parts of the text, also referring to the iconographic layer of these films, allow the author to conclude that, although celebration needs a happy mood, and in essence it has to unite the community, and let individuals and groups – using rituals – “pass” safely from the ordinary duration of time to sacred time, it is during the celebration that melancholy manifests itself with a destructive force. This is probably because, during a birthday party, wedding fête or a solemn family dinner, we unexpectedly realize that something has passed away from us once and for all.

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