Synopsis

Wrecked, handmade objects gradually reconstructing themselves… Objects - a doll, a stuffed owl, a trumpet - serve as a concentrated microcosm of a larger, off-screen drama. A frequently humorous and sometimes ominous soundtrack makes Renaissance one of Borowczyk’s most perfect films.

Walerian Borowczyk

Master craftsman, dadaist prankster and unrepentant sensualist, Walerian Borowczyk (1923 - 2006) and his films have yet to be both fully discovered and appreciated. Having relocated to France during the late 1950s, Borowczyk produced a succession of startling, often comic short films that were as innovative as they were provocative. Not only was Borowczyk a trailblazer for fine artists working in film, but he also brought a keen, painterly eye to framing and editing objects, animals and bodies. Often, Borowczyk would place special emphasis on props, which often play vital roles in his highly visual approach to storytelling. A master at marrying film to both classical and electronic music, Borowczyk’s approach to cinema harked back to both the silent days and even pre-cinema. A parodic, sense of earthy humour masks Borowczyk’s distinctly moral sensibility, eager to satirise the corruption of institutions, whether they be feudal, clerical or bureaucratic. Prepare to be dazzled.