"Sources in English [on Polish cinema] are especially scant . . . What a relief, then, to read such an informed and concise yet exhaustive account of Polish cinema." · Slavic Review
"What makes Haltof's book so wonderful is that, like a great filmmaker, he uses his subject to craft a much deeper and complex story of the Polish people and their search for a national identity . . . With clarity and fluidity he makes Poland come alive . . . To most of us the Polish national cinema was lost. Thanks to Mr. Haltof it has been found." · Film and History
"Haltof's comprehensive, lucid, and refreshing critical history of Polish cinema significantly expands the existing literature on the topic in English . . . his excellent bibliography and chronological filmography will make this remarkable volume essential for all serious libraries and very useful in the undergraduate or graduate classroom." · Choice
"No doubt this 100-year history of Polish movie making is an outstanding reference work, the only one of its kind in English . . . the incisive comments are memorable." · Polish Library News
In the years since World War II, Poland has developed one of Europe's most distinguished film cultures. However, in spite of the importance of Polish cinema this is a domain in need of systematic study.
This book is the first comprehensive study of Polish cinema from the end of the 19th century to the present. It provides not only an introduction to Polish cinema within a socio-political and economic context, but also to the complexities of East-Central European cinema and politics.
Marek Haltof is Assistant Professor in Film in the English Department at Northern Michigan University. He published Peter Weir: When Cultures Collide (1996) and three books on cinema in Polish, including Australian Cinema: On the Screen Construction of Australia (1996) and Author and Art Cinema: The Case of Paul Cox (2001). He is also the author of two novels published in Poland.