Newsletter 7th November 2011

GENERAL


Independence Day: 11th November
This Friday the Poles celebrate the regaining of independence in 1918 after over 100 years of being partitioned between three neighbouring countries: Russia, Prussia and Austria. The first partition took place in 1772; the last one, which wiped Poland off the map of Europe, in 1795. From that moment onwards, Poles became citizens of the occupying countries, Polish ceased to be the official language, education was conducted in a way that was meant to eradicate the young Poles' sense of national identity, and a series of other measures were introduced that at their best made the lives of Polish patriots difficult, and at their worst resulted in them being severely punished for acts seen as going against the interest of the three superpowers. Interestingly, The Ottoman Empire was the only country in the world that refused to accept the liquidation of the Republic of Poland as a result of partition and reserved a place in its diplomatic corps for an Ambassador of Lehistan (Poland).
If you'd like to know more, go to http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/466910/Partitions-of-Poland

Unfortunately, the day of 11th November is also an occassion for far-right and neo-nazi groups to march in Warsaw and demonstrate their narrow vision of intolerant and xenophobic Poland. This is why many anti-fashist groups and individuals organise their own march in order to prevent the fashists from marching. More info on the anti-fashist action can be found at http://www.11listopada.org/node/2.

ATTENTION: Because it's such an important holiday, expect the majority of shops to be closed and the majority of city buses to run according to the holiday (Dzień Świąteczny) timetable.



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CULTURAL NEWS


INTERNATIONAL DANCE THEATRE FESTIVAL
until 13th November

This year’s jubilee edition of the Festival is held under a 'PERSONALITIES' theme and will include some of the latest performances of artists whose work has had the deepest impact on our memories over the last 15 years. They have formed the Festival’s profile due to their determination in creating their own artistic path but, at the same time, they have remained open for a dialogue with the viewer.

The full programme, performance venues and admission prices can be found at http://dancefestival.lublin.pl/index.php?page=english-2/home

ticket prices: normal ticket 25 PLN
concessionary ticket (students) 15 PLN
full pass 280 PLN
concessionary pass 140PLN
workshop participants pass 100PLN
5-show pass 100PLN
5-show concessionary pass 50 PLN

The tickets and passes can be bought at Centrum Kultury ul. Narutowicza 32 (see map) from noon to 5 p.m.; tickets (but not passes) can also be bought an hour before each show at the show venues.
The film premiere on 6th Nov. (Stand By) and 7th Nov show Fallin Grace can only be attended by invitation holders.
The 11th Nov screening of Stand By can only be attended by holders of free tickets that must be collected at Centrum Kultury (one person can only collect 4 free tickets).



CINEMA


Film Discussion Club at Chatka Żaka: In a Better World
7th November (Mon), 5.45 p.m., Chatka Żaka (Academic Cultural Centre) ul. Radziszewskiego 16 (see map)

dir. Susanne Bier (Denmark/Sweden 2010)
Golden Globe 2010 for best foreign film, Oscar 2010 for best foreign film
Anton is a doctor who commutes between his home in an idyllic town in Denmark, and his work at an African refugee camp. In these two very different worlds, he and his family are faced with conflicts that lead them to difficult choices between revenge and forgiveness.

tickets: students 10 pln, others 12 PLN available at Chatka Żaka half an hour before the screening
You can also buy a pass for this and three other films (Cirkus Columbia by Danis Tanovic on 14.11, Passione by John Turturro on 21.11 and Temporada de Patos (Duck Season) by Fernando Eimbcke on 28.1) for 20 PLN today from 3 p.m. onwards.