6th August (Tuesday), 21 p.m.

Peter Land proposes the films that have acted as a creative inspiration for him. For screening at Zachęta he has chosen an iconic slapstick comedy with the famous double-act Laurel and Hardy in the lead role, along with a classic Hollywood film-noir thriller. The court-métrage comedy will be screened first and confronted with the film that follows it, thus creating a mix of the comic and the disturbing which is also characteristic of Peter Land’s work.

Below Zero, dir. James Parrot, featuring: Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, U.S.A., 1930, 20 min

Comedies with Laurel and Hardy scarcely need introducing. The artist proposes for us Below Zero, a short comedy n which the humour is composed of the duo’s trademark gags based on errors and mistakes. This sort of approach to failure is also present in works by the Danish artist. The film tells the story of two street musicians who are not making a great success of earning money. When they unexpectedly find a wallet, they think that they have had a great slice of good fortune, but their acquisition is noted by a crook. A policeman comes to their aid… However, this is not the end of the film heroes’ misfortunes…

Night of the Hunter, dir. Charles Laughton, U.S.A., 1955, 93 min

A great fan of suspense, the thrill of tension and emotions, Peter Land proposes Night of the Hunter, a cult film from the 1950s based on a book by Davis Grubb. This is a film for viewers with strong nerves.
The film tells the story of an avaricious vicar Harry Powell, who lands in jail for car stealing. There he meets Ben Harper, a man awaiting execution. The condemned man had stolen and hid 10,000 dollars, and only his children know where the loot is stashed. After sitting out his punishment, the false priest heads for Harper’s farm in order to find the money… The film features a galaxy of stars of Hollywood cinema: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lilian Gish.

Film in original language with subtitles in English.

Zachęta Summer Cinema
Film screenings in the garden next to the Club/Café Eufemia (the rector’s building of the Academy of the Fine Arts, Krakowskie Przedmieście 5), entrance from Wacław Niżyński passage
entrance free