Program

Retrospective: Robert Altman

Robert Altman was one of the most prolific and dedicated directors in American cinema. Throughout his career, he directed dozens of feature-length films, original series, numerous episodes for other showrunners, as well as TV films and recordings of theatrical performances. 

Over the past two years in Wrocław, we've explored Altman's political films – focused on American myths, the nation’s tendency toward violence, and showbiz—as well as his “women's films,” often psychological thrillers laced with misogynistic anxieties. But even these retrospectives barely scratch the surface of his rich legacy. Altman’s body of work includes a range of unique, low-budget films that defy easy categorization but are always distinctly personal, imbued with his unmistakable style and approach to character portrayal. This year at the festival, we invite you to dive into these often overlooked works, which span genres such as detective stories, period pieces, dystopian tales, political dramas, and musicals. The common thread? None of them is random or insignificant, as Altman’s directorial genius knew no boundaries and could turn any script into a masterpiece.


The Long Goodbye (1973)

A modernized adaptation of Raymond Chandler's final and most melancholic novel. Set in 1970s Los Angeles where private investigator Philip Marlowe finds himself entangled in two unconventional cases, one of which involves the mysterious suicide of a friend.

Quintet (1979)

One of Altman’s coldest and most introspective works. In a post-apocalyptic, ice-stricken world, the last remnants of humanity cling to life, waiting for a miracle. It turns out to be the pregnancy of one of the protagonists, signaling the possibility of preserving the species. However, a mysterious game of quintet stands in the way.

Popeye (1980) 

A superproduction that is a musical version of the famous cartoon about a powerful spinach-eating sailor and his resourceful wife. After being shipwrecked, the solitary Popeye (Robin Williams in one of his first roles) washes ashore in the port town of Sweethaven.

Secret Honor (1984) 

Philip Baker Hall's stage monodrama, featuring the emotional, venomous, and anguished monologue of former U.S. President Richard Nixon, has become one of the most ambiguous presidential portrayals and a testament to Hall's acting talent.

Vincent & Theo (1990) 

One of Robert Altman's most poignant and heartbreaking films. It chronicles the career, suffering, and spiraling mental illness of Vincent van Gogh, culminating in his tragic suicide, as seen through the eyes of his devoted brother, Theo.

Gosford Park (2001)

One of Altman's crowning achievements, the film follows members and friends of the English aristocracy, along with their servants, as they gather at the Gosford Park estate. When the master of the house is murdered, it soon becomes clear that nearly everyone had a motive to commit the crime.

Rafał Syska, curator of the retrospective

Filmoteka Narodowa – Instytut Audiowizualny is a partner of the retrospective.

 

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