“Satan from the Seventh Grade” by Kornel Makuszyński, directed by Maria Kaniewska, is one of the classics of Polish cinema. debuted on the big screens on November 25, 1960, and the story of the clever 17-year-old quickly stole the hearts of millions of viewers, becoming as best-selling as the novel. It was also similar with Józef Skwarek, who played the title role of Adaś Cisowski. Although it created a sensation and many predicted a spectacular career for it, the reviewers did not share this admiration. How did his fate turn out?
“Satan in the Seventh Grade” was a real hit. For Józef Skwarek, it turned out to be a drag
When Józef Skwark came to the casting for “Satan from the Seventh Grade”, he was a student of the Łódź film school. He received the invitation from the director herself, who was also his lecturer and supervisor of his year. She almost immediately noticed Adaś in the 22-year-old and eventually offered him the role. Even before entering the set, the young actor had to meet several requirements, including: undergo a spectacular metamorphosis, thanks to which he was supposed to better imitate the school bully from Makuszyński’s bestseller. First of all, he quit smoking, gained weight and bleached his hair.
However, his dedication was not appreciated by reviewers who said that “his playing lacks youthful charm and lightness”. However, the younger audience, especially its female part, was absolutely delighted with it, and Skwarka himself enjoyed unflagging popularity and interest. After the premiere, he regularly received numerous letters and various invitations from fans, which initially flattered him. – There were about a thousand of them – he said in the program. Over time, however, he began to notice that he was treated only through the prism of his hero. At that time, the world of cinema also had little to offer him, which also began to bother him. Resigned, with no hope for the situation to improve, he eventually disappeared from the screens for many decades, but he did not abandon acting.
After the premiere of “Satan”, he focused on theater. He returned to the screens almost 50 years later
Many believed that Skwark wasted his talent and did not fully use his potential, but he did not feel like a loser at all. After his debut role in the film, he devoted himself fully to working in the theater, where he also developed his wings as a director. – Apart from directing, I discovered teaching talents. That’s why I had the greatest fun working with the actor. Especially when I cast an unknown artist in a role that helped him discover his professional potential. This is fascinating – in “Angora”.
He was associated with the largest stages in the country, including: with the Polish Theater in Poznań, the Dramatic Theater in Szczecin, the Polish Theater in Wrocław and the Theater. Juliusz Słowacki in Krakow. – The role of “Satan from the seventh grade” existed in me and with me until almost the end of my artistic career – said the actor in the TVP program, adding that it was also one of his last directed plays. He returned to the screens only after almost five decades, in 2007 with an episode in the series “Two Sides of a Medal”. Later, for 3 years he played Father Zygmunt in , and also appeared in the TVP hit “Everything Before Us” and “First Love”. Józef Skwark died on November 25, 2022, at the age of 84.
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.
