Manofmarble

Manofmarbleemploysanotsomundanenarrative:itislikeunearthingthepast,andexhumethoseforgottenmemories.Therearetwostoriesinthefilm;oneembedsanother,andtheyhaveapresentvoiceandapastvoicerespectively.ThepresentonedepictsafemalefilmmakersplantoshootamoviebasedonaworkermodelwhooncebeeminentintheStalinsperiod.Herwork,firstly,isdoingresearchtogarneranythingabouttheprotagonist,partofthismissionsheaccomplishedbywatchinghistoricalfilmsmadethenrelatedtothathero.Asthisprocesses,thepasttensestoryisembodied,theprotagonistshowsup:anartlesschap.Inthefilmsthefemaledirectorexplored,thatmanwasabrick-layer,whosestorywaspropagandizedtoliftotherworkersmorale,andsurely,suggestingthesuperiorofthesocialismregime.Forthosegrownupinsocialismcountries,thiskindofpropagandawouldnotbestrange.Theprotagonistwasnotsoeducated,buthewasoutstandinginhisoccupation:hecouldlaybrickconsistentlyforseveralhoursandtherebyhasaprominentrecordforefficiencyandperseverance.Inordertocollectmoreinfoaboutthishero,thefilmmakertravelseverywheretointerviewthoseoncelivedwithhim,fromfriendstoex-wife,andgraduallytheimageoftheworkermodelbecomesmoreandmoreconcrete.ThesocialcrisisandthebacksideofPolandhistory,alongwiththeclassesconflictandtheridiculouspolitiesstemmedintheregimehavebeenrevealed,asweknowmoreandmoreaboutthemanofmarble.ThenameManofmarble,infact,meanstheman(ourprotagonist)oncehadbeenmoldedintosculpturesforhonor.Butwelearntthatthebrick-layerlosthisexaltedstatusduetohisrupturewiththeestablishment.Howeverthemovieexcelsincriticizingandsatire,butaudienceneverfeelsthatitpoursoutharshlythemundanedissatisfaction,forallreflectionandsuspicionofthecountryspastwereaccomplishedquitegraceful,ofahighdegreeofprofessionalproficiency.