Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.01.2018, Blaðsíða 38

Bíó Paradís Says
Na Zdrowie!
Cinema Now Screening Mainstream Polish Films
Words: Greig Robertson Photo: Art Bicnick
Bíó Paradís is now showing main-
stream Polish titles to cater for
Iceland’s growing population of
Polish immigrants. The initiative,
conceived by Paradís Program Di-
rector, Ása Baldursdóttir, began
with a screening of ‘Botoks’ (‘Bo-
tox’) on October 14th 2017, which
was attended by Polish natives
came from far and wide. Since
then, titles such as ‘Listy Do M. 3’
(‘Letters to Santa 3’), ‘Ach Spij Ko-
chanie’ (‘Lullaby Killer’) and ‘Volta’
have been well-received, with more
to come in the New Year. The popu-
larity of the project to date has re-
flected the dearth of cultural prod-
ucts accessible for immigrants and
the importance of cultural recog-
nition for minorities in Iceland.
A change of tack
Since Poland joined the European
Union in 2004 and the Schengen
Zone in 2007, the Polish commu-
nity in Iceland has exponentially
increased. In fact, by January 1st
2017, almost 14,000 Poles had set-
tled in Iceland, constituting 38.3%
of all immigrants and around 4%
of the Icelandic population. Ca-
tering for this significant minor-
ity population is, then, a relatively
new prospect and given that it is
expensive and logistically difficult
for Polish people to return home,
keeping cultural offerings broad
seems like an astute move.
“Even though we strive to get
more artistic titles, we want to
provide something accessible for
Polish people,” Ása says. “We want
to provide escapism and to do that
we cannot just screen art films.”
Artistic importance is rarely a sec-
ond thought at Bíó Paradís, how-
ever, in this case, it is necessary to
make an exception. “Maybe in the
future a taste for that will devel-
op,” Ása laughs. After producing
famed directors such as Andrzej
Wajda and Roman Polanski, surely
this is only a matter of time.
Culturally starved
As titles have been decided by the
Polish community themselves, the
project also has a more coopera-
tive feel than your average cinema
screening. “Polish people are re-
ally hungry to meet other people
from their community and it’s nice
to see that this project has brought
them together,” Ása elaborates.
“This kind of thing is very re-
warding for communities that are
starving for something like this.”
Especially for Poles working
in the countryside, the initiative
has proved a welcome antidote to
physical and cultural isolation,
proving that more can be done, es-
pecially outside of Reykjavík. “In
2011, we did a community outreach
project that was called ‘Films on
the Fringe,’ and we went to ten dif-
ferent locations in Iceland which
don’t have cinemas,” Ása explains.
“We noticed that the Polish com-
munity was very prominent in ru-
ral Icelandic areas and we would
love to do more for them.”
Icelanders welcome
For the time being, Ása insists that
all of those in the capital can ben-
efit from seeing Polish films and
that expanding the cooperative
spirit of the project would only be
beneficial. “Now we have all these
films with English subtitles and
because most Icelanders are fluent
in English, this is an open window
for people to enjoy something dif-
ferent,” she concludes.
In the New Year, Paradís will
be showcasing several new titles,
including ‘Kobiety Mafii’ (‘Wom-
en of the Mafia’), while ‘Najlepsz,’
(‘Breaking the Limits’) is now be-
ing screened. So, whether you’re
Polish and craving home, or not,
and craving a delicious slice of
multiculturalism, be sure to check
out some Polish cinema in 2018.
Heck, why not make it your New
Year's Resolution?
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