AfterImage opens as Strzemiński is casually painting a canvas when his lighting is suddenly blotted out by a large, red banner across his apartment window. As a double amputee, he struggles to the window to find that an enormous red flag is welcoming a procession for Stalinist rule. At the present time, he was employed as a lecturer/ professor at the school, originally known as the State Higher School of Visual Arts in Łódź, of which he was one of the original founders. In the movie, he is idolized by a passionate student body and younger generation. The museum also exhibited his lectures and works in their gallery. In his honor, the school was renamed in 1988 as the Wladyslaw Strzemiński School of Fine Art, but has again been renamed as the Academy of Fine Arts In Łódź.
Strzemiński formed an international network with other progressive contacts, and these efforts brought about the International Collection of Modern Art, which was funded by artist donations from Max Ernst, Pablo Picasso, and Kurt Schwitters, to name a few. Their works produced creative sculptures, paintings, graphic design, and architecture.
Strzemiński's struggles begin at the onset of Communist rule when he accidentally tears the red emblem when trying to determine what it is and what it is doing blocking his view. Soon afterwards, this seemingly unassailable artist is brought before the regime and is given a choice to use his talents for the traditional government who is against progressive modernism, and basically continue in his status quo -- or else. Meanwhile, he has a young daughter who is trying to juggle education, family, social life, and a sick mother, while he has to struggle with his injuries from the World War, the possibility of losing his job, plus the advances of a love-sick student seeking romance.
AfterImage is a compelling biography about a strong idealistic artist with a weakened and handicapped physical body that is wrestling to maintain his principals and ideals to pursue and promote progressive art in the shadow of the menacing cruelty from the Stalinist command as it methodically erases his life. The Blu-ray edition is excellent, and Special Features consist of Film Movements trailers of upcoming features, plus an AfterImage trailer. It also includes Commentary by Professor Stuart Liebman from the CUNY Graduate Center.
Also included is an important documentary from the great director himself called "Wajda on Wajda" discussing the inception of the filmmakers community in Poland to "A Generation," his first movie in 1955, and continuing on with others throughout the evolution of his career. He discusses "Kanal" that presents the desolation and horror of war; "Ashes and Diamonds" being the third movie in the war trilogy, and introduces the James Dean character of Maciek Chelmicki (Zbigniew Cybulskidis, Jovita ) who questions the goals of war; "Innocent Sorcerers" takes you back to a seemingly "normal life" with youthful independence, and introduces American Jazz. "The Promised Land" brought to its public a feeling of hope with the possibility of achievement; "Man of Marble" gave insight to the Socialistic economy and super-productive workers, and "Danton" starred the great French actor Gérard Depardieu (La Vie En Rose). The film features other movies directed by Wajda that are similarly enticing. The cinematographer's purpose was to bring stories to their public with an artistic, social and political value. All the movies discussed in this documentary are noteworthy, and add to the experience of this director and his success as one of Poland's greatest directors.
AfterImage is the last film by Poland's notable director/writer Andrezej Wajda (now deceased) that presents a film that is compelling, impassioned, and heartfelt. This gives just a glimpse of the horrific conditions Communist orthodoxy placed on its people. Strzemiński was an artist, internationally known in his career, befriended by other great artists, and yet the authorities dismissed him due to non-compliance with the principles of socialist realism and moved to eradicate him, his art work, and his ideals. Stupendous documentary!
