FILM

"Primate" in Poznań

The Poznań premiere of Teresa Kotlarczyk's film "Primate - three years out of a thousand" attracted numerous viewers to the Wilda cinema. On this occasion ART-FILM organised a press conference having invited the director of the film and the leading actor Andrzej Seweryn. The editorial staff of "Welcome to Poznań" also participated in this meeting.

Journalists were mainly interested in the reception of the role by the actor himself. Primate Wyszyński is a very important figure for Polish society perceived as a symbol of the fight with the communist regime.

Asked by the representative of "Welcome to Poznań" how he prepared to act the role of Primate Wyszyński, Andrzej Seweryn answered: "I was aware of the fact that I will be interrogated. This is a very significant figure for Poles. What was the most important for me was not to lie and not to obscure the image of those years. We realise that, to a large extent, the image of the Primate will be related to the film. Initially I was to imitate the Primate. But it is clear that this film tells the story of passive resistance against the evil, a life story of a Pole for whom the spirit was of utmost importance. I came to the conclusion that I cannot imitate him, but I have to create his figure in me anew. Has my inner life changed after this role? I have been spiritually enriched. The most difficult for me was the first day of shooting the film, when I was to preach from the pulpit. It was then when I understood that I cannot imitate this man. Later on it was easier for me; I felt that the Primate was with us. This is a film about a man whom I would like to meet in my life. The words of Primate Wyszyński that were deeply imprinted on my memory are: 'Oh God, do not ever let me learn how to hate' ".

Asked by the journalists about his plans for the future, Andrzej Seweryn did not want to say whether he would act in Polish films more often or not.

What followed were many questions and behind-the-scene talks, which resulted in a series of photographs with the actor. After the press conference Andrzej Seweryn, with a bunch of flowers, attended the premiere of the film.