THE POLKA PODCAST. Episode 1: Polish Literature on the Screen

SHOW NOTES:

The conversation delves into the exploration of Polish literature and film. Part one focuses on screen adaptations of Olga Tokarczuk’s books. Part two is a conversation with Polish film critic Michał Oleszczyk on Andrzej Wajda and his book adaptations, his influence on Polish cinema, the flourishing of Polish film under communism and new directors and films worth attention. Part three is a conversation with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska from ZNAK, one of the biggest Polish publishing houses. This conversation focuses on the state of publishing in Poland, the process of adapting books to the screen and places Polish book adaptations in a wider context.

Part 1: Olga Tokarczuk’s books in English and film adaptations

“Primevial and Other Times”, trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2010, Twisted Spoon Press

“House of Day, House of Night”, trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2002, Granta; 2003, Northwestern University Press; 2025, Firzcarraldo Editions

“Flights”, trans. Jennifer Croft, 2018, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions

“Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead”, trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2019, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions

“The Books of Jacob”, trans. Jennifer Croft, 2022, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions

“Empusium”, trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2024, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions

Żurek, directed by Ryszard Brylski, 2003, based on Olga Tokarczuk’s story from “Gra na wielu bębenkach”

Spoor, directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, 2017, based on Olga Tokarczuk’s “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead”

Winter of the Crow, directed by Kasia Adamik, 2025, based on Olga Tokarczuk’s story “Gra na wielu bębenkach”

Also the staging of “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead” at the Barbican Theatre, directed by Simon McBurney, 2022.

Part 2: Andrzej Wajda’s films

Ashes and Diamonds, based on Jerzy Andrzejewski’s book

Man of Marble

The Ashes, based on Stefan Żeromski’s book

Pan Tadeusz, based on Adam Mickiewicz’s long poem

The Wedding, based on Stanisław Wyspiański’s play in verse

Maids of Wilko, based on Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz’s novella

Rough Treatment

The Promised Land, based on Władysław Reymont’s novel

The Orchestra Conductor

Other notable Polish directors:

Agnieszka Holland

Andrzej Żuławski

Piotr Szulkin

Witold Leszczyński

Aleksander Ford

Walerian Borowczyk

Krzysztof Kieślowski

Roman Polański

Jerzy Skolimowski

New directors to watch out for:

Paweł Pawlikowski

Jan Matuszyński

Jan Komasa

Agnieszka Smoczyńska

Aleksandra Terpińska

Part 3:

Interview with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska, ZNAK

Writer’s mentioned:

Małgorzata Szejnert

Wojciech Jagielski

Wiesław Myśliwski (“The Needle’s Eye”)

Małgorzata Lebda (“Voracious”) and forthcoming adaptation by Jagoda Szelc

Władysław Reymont’s “The Peasants” and its adaptation

Adam Mirek’s “The Guts” and its forthcoming adaptation

Heweliusz, Netflix series

365 days, Netflix film

Forgotten Love, Netflix series

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guests, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Michał Oleszczyk and Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska.