Women and Polish Cinema

An in-depth exploration of the vital, yet often overlooked, contributions of women across Polish film history.

Across Polish film history, the contributions of women have often been overshadowed by their male counterparts. While figures like Wanda Jakubowska, Barbara Sass-Zdort, and Agnieszka Holland have garnered recognition, many others remain marginalized and their work alarmingly under-researched. This open access book redresses this imbalance, providing a comprehensive analysis of women's engagement in Polish cinema from as early as the 1930s up to present day.

The volume provides an in-depth exploration of the careers and achievements of women both in front of and behind the camera. These include actresses such as Nora Ney, Jadwiga Smosarska, and Lena Zelichowska; producers like Maria Hirszbein; directors such as Maria Zmarz-Koczanowicz, Krystyna Janda, Natalia Koryncka-Gruz, Urszula Urbaniak, and Izabella Cywinskal; as well as scriptwriters, editors, and amateur filmmakers. In doing so, it challenges traditional film historiography, uncovering the systemic neglect and patriarchal structures that have long suppressed women's contributions to the industry.

The case studies presented also revise the Western perspective on Polish and Eastern European cinema, challenging the misplaced notion that it is primarily a politically engaged, male-dominated auteur cinema. In doing so, the volume initiates the long-overdue process of rewriting the vernacular history of Polish cinema.