Farewell to Autumn is an adaptation of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz’s novel of the same title. “Filled with eroticism and the spirit of madness, this thrilling picture of the world in the face of catastrophe” – assures the distributor of the production shot in 1989.
Peszek remembers recording a kiss with Frycz. “I had to ask for it”
The plot focuses on the young decadent and writer Atanazy Bazakbalu (played by Athanasius Bazakbalu, who indulges in “erotic madness” in the arms of the demonic Hela Bertz (Maria Pakulnis) – she is the daughter of an influential financier and also has trysts with Prince Prepudrech. Wounded and rejected, Athanasius throws the prince out of the castle and, in addition, becomes engaged to the noblewoman Zofia Osłabędzki. The enraged prince challenges Atanazy to a duel. Meanwhile, enemy armed forces are approaching the palace. During the riots, Bazakbal finds shelter with Count Łohojski, who is in love with him director Mariusz Treliński, who together with Wojciech Nowak and Janusz Wróblewski also wrote its screenplay.
The production is considered the best film adaptation of Witkacy’s work so far and was received with great enthusiasm at the Gdynia Film Festival. Treliński even received the Andrzej Munk for the best debut of the year, cameraman Jarosław Żamojda (who became famous a few years later for directing “Young Wolves”), as well as set design and costumes. The critics also unanimously emphasized that Jan Frycz, Maria Pakulnis and Jan Peszek, who played the leading roles, faithfully rendered Witkacy’s atmosphere of eerieness. There are also opinions that the kiss scene between Peszek and Frycz is one of the most sensual in the history of Polish cinema.
Kuba Wojewódzki asked Jan Peszek about recording this sequence in the episode of his podcast “WojewódzkiKędzierski” – Andrzej Grabowski was also a guest of the episode. Peszek began to recall the photos for the sequence: “The only thing I remember is the nightmarish cold. The object was in Łódź, in some ruined post-textile palace. It was just terribly cold there. We in silks, some wonderful music in the background, we were shivering could be considered some kind of excitement,” he described. He also noted:
Janek kisses normally, nice. He didn’t have the problem I had. That he wanted me because I was supposed to want him.
He also added that they recorded the scene spontaneously and did not prepare for it in advance. “You don’t practice sex with the actress you’re supposed to have sex with, but ultimately it’s some kind of Swedish gymnastics,” he explained.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
