Many residents of the central Polish city of Kielce would rather forget the anti-Semitic pogrom that took place here in 1946. Psychologist Bogdan Białek prefers however to open up old wounds in order to make a coming to terms with the past possible. The film accompanies him as he struggles with both internal and external resistance.
The largest pogrom in post-war Poland took place on July 4, 1946 in Kielce: over 40 survivors of the Shoah were killed and a further 80 wounded, at the hands of the people of Kielce. In communist Poland, the massacre was hushed up - but it was never forgotten.
After 1989, journalist and psychologist Bogdan Białek begins to speak openly about the events. With great commitment and years of painstaking work, he compels the residents of his home-town to face their past. Joined by a growing number of allies, he struggles against both suppression of the truth and prejudice, initiates educational initiatives and builds connections between the current residents of Kielce and Jews who once lived here.
For over ten years, a Polish-Catholic and American-Jewish directing duo documented Białek's efforts to "speak the truth with love". With its wealth of material featuring the voices of local residents, the film also evolved into an important contemporary document: How have views of the events changed, what emotions surface between the suppression of the truth and the bearing of responsibility and what narratives arise between these conflicting tendencies?
Text: Rainer Mende
Credits
original title Bogdan’s Journey
international title Bogdan’s Journey
german title BOGDANS REISE
JFBB section Break or continuity? "Anti-Zionism" and anti-Semitism under socialism and afterwards. Part II: Anti-Semitismus in Post-socialism
country/countries PL, US
year 2016 (remastered version 2025)
duration 90
MICHAŁ JASKULSKI
BIO MICHAŁ JASKULSKI graduated from The Polish National Film School in 2004 with a Master of Art degree in cinematography. Since then, he has enjoyed a highly active and lauded career in film garnering several sought after, prestigious awards, among others: IAB 2015 Global Insights, MIXX Awards 2014, Cloocam 2013, Reel of Excelence and Best Special effects at Los Angeles Movie Awards 2010, Special recognition at Very Short Movies 2010 in L.A., The Royal Reel for Excellence in Filmaking at Canada International Film Festival 2010, multiple nominations and an Award at Yach Film Festival, Award of The Polish Screenplay Foundation 1997.
LAWRENCE LOEWINGER
BIO Lawrence Loewinger is a producer/director, sound mixer, teacher and film journalist. His first documentary film, KIDS ARE PEOPLE, (1972); it won awards, was broadcast on public television and went into distribution. He has worked on many other documentaries, including Academy Award winning films, among them the documentary, FROM MAO TO MOZART.·Soon after KIDS, he took a hiatus from filmmaking and embarked on a distinguished career as a sound mixer. He has received two Emmy Awards for his sound work, the most recent of which is for his work on the award-winning TV show, 30 ROCK.· He has taught at Wesleyan and he is currently teaching at New York·University's·Tisch·School of the Arts.
