Director Lukasz Palkowski and actor Tomasz Kot at the 39th Gdynia Film Festival. Photo: PAP/Piotr Wittman
Director Lukasz Palkowski's film about the late Zbigniew Religa brings a generous dose of humour to the Cold War era plot.
“Polish films are always very sad, and people don't like that,” Palkowski told Polish Radio's English Section after Saturday's awards ceremony.
“So I made a film with a light touch.
“Me, the scriptwriter, the DOP, the actors - we've all got the same sense of humour.”
Tomasz Kot, who played the larger than life surgeon, won the Best Actor award for his performance and he also proved a resounding hit with festival-goers.
“Dr Religa was a great man for all Poles,” Kot enthused.
Tomasz Kot in Gods. Image: Next Film
Veteran film director Ryszard Bugajski, chairman of this year's jury, said Gods is a movie he would have liked to have made himself.
“I prefer films that get to the audience through emotions, not intellect.
“It was very important that humour was combined with real drama.
“The action takes place during the communist times when hospitals were very poor and they were very badly equipped - a patient could die from just an infection or something very stupid.
“This guy [Zbigniew Religa], was in the spearhead of modern medicine in Poland, because people were afraid, they feared that they would fail.
Thirteen Polish films were pitted against each other in the Main Competition this year.
Of the emerging talent, Hardcore Disco director Krzysztof Skonieczny had the best evening.
His Warsaw-based tale of revenge was funded entirely independently, and it scooped Best Debut, Best Cinematography (Kacper Fertacz) and Best Debut Actress (Jasmina Polak).
“I didn't expect that and it's a great honour,” Skonieczny said.
“It's so satisfying that we remained independent. This movie was created with passion and the strength of our hearts.”
Actress Jasmina Polak said Skonieczny inspired his crew to take on challenges.
“Nothing is impossible for this guy and it's amazing to work with him.” (nh)
Click here for a complete list of this year's winners