A flurry of events in October:
POLISH HERITAGE MONTH

Check our calendar for many more upcoming events

MADISON POLISH FILM FESTIVAL
hosted this year on Sundays, November 13 and 20, 2022

Visit our PFF page for more information

November 13 at 6:30 pm

ILLUSION (Iluzja)
(2022, dir. Marta Minorowicz)

In the story of a Mother dealing with her daughter's disappearance, the film heighlights the strenght of human spirit and search for balance between acceptance and harmony against tragic circumstances.

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November 20 at 1:30 pm

F*CKING BORNHOLM
(2022, dir. Anna Kazejak)

A group of friends with their children go on a traditional long weekend trip on the Danish island of Bornholm. An incident between children will trigger a wave of crises in their relationship.

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November 20 at 4:00 pm

BLACK SHEEP (Czarna Owca)
(2021, dir. Aleksander Pietrzak)

A heartfelt comedy that follow a married couple taking care of a sick grandfather and living with their son. Then the family's life implodes after Magda makes a life-changing decision to disclose to her husband of 25 years that she prefers women.

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November 20 at 6:30 pm

SONATA
(2021, dir. Bartosz Blaschke)

A 14-year old boy discovers that he was misdiagnosed with autism due to a hearing loss. With support from his parents and an auditory implant, he discovers his talent as a musician.

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OCTOBER 10th, 12 and 14th
Tyrone Greive and Michael Keller concerts

Another opportunity to "experience the incomparable joys of live, in-person music making" comes with three concerts by the Greive & Keller duo. Both performers are retired UW faculty and Tyrone Greive is also an PHC Honorary Member.  The beautiful music on the menu will contrast different national styles and include compositions of W. A. Mozart, Antonín Dvořák, Clara Schumann, Lili Boulanger and Grażyna Bacewicz, one of Poland’s most important early 20 th-century composers.

Additionally, the program on October 10th (Oakwood) and 12th (Capitol Lakes) will include three Polish selections: arrangements of the introspective Nocturne in C-sharp minor, op. posth. (1830) and the elegantly lilting Mazurka in A minor, op. 67, no. 4 (1846) by pianist-composer Frédérick Chopin and the exotically-flavored Fantaisie Orientale, op. 24 (1876) by the famous violinist-composer Henryk Wieniawski, as well as transcriptions of distinctly American flavored music from George Gershwin’s opera ‘Porgy and Bess’ (1935).

November 8 on WORT
The archived broadcast of about 1.5 hours of the contemporary folk music can be enjoyed on the archives of the "Global Revolutions" show through November 22, 2021.

November 11 at 7pm in Cafe Coda
This two-part event is held to celebrate Poland's Independence Day observed on November 11th. The CHOPIN IN JAZZ part features the performance of Chicago artists, Grażyna Auguścik (vocals) and Paul Bedal (piano).  The jazz session will follow the screening of CHOPIN. CARRIBEAN KEY (Polish title,  Antyle Chopina), a documentary exploring Chopin's influence on the music and local culture of Curaçao. In particular, the "Carribean Mazurka" created under this influence became a national dance of the island. The movie director, Agnieszka Lipiec-Wróblewska, will be present to answer questions.

November 11 at 7pm, Chopin Nocturnes
Trevor Stephenson returns with two classes focussing this year on Chopin's nocturnes.  The classes can be attended virtually but a limited number of seatings is available for attendance in person.The second class of the series is scheduled for 7pm on November 18.  
Crowning Trevor Stephenson's offerings for this season is the concert featuring a selection of Chopin's waltzes and nocturnes. With options for attending virtually or in person, the concert is scheduled for 3 pm on Sunday, November 21.

November 16, 7pm
Switching gears into the themes of love for animals and daring missions behind the enemy lines undertaken to rescue the magnificent thoroughbred horses successflly bred in Poland since the late 17th century, the PHC Book Club gathers to discuss "The Perfect Horse" witten by Elizabeth Letts. The title works along multiple lines, from the scientific theories of breeding to the German Nazi obsession with racial purity, while the whole book reminds us that "sometimes humans can come together and put aside their enmities to preserve international and cultural treasures on behalf of generations to come." The book also seems to be "destined for cinematic treatment," and this brings us to the next item on the November schedule.

NADISON POLISH FILM FESTIVAL

November 14, 3pm and 5:30pm at Union South
This is the first day of Madison Polish Film Festival that enters the 31st year of its existence nd continuing popularity. Here are the first two movies screened this year:

November 14 at 3 pm

SWEAT
(2020, dir. Magnus van Horn, 1hour 46 minutes)

Beloved fitness influencer Sylwia seemingly has it made: hundreds of thousands of social media followers, endorsement deals, photo spreads in magazines. But as she starts to share more and more online, the rising pressure from concerned sponsors and increasingly obsessive fans forces her to confront her deepest insecurities and the exhaustive demands of her lifestyle.

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November 14 at 5:30 pm

KILL IT AND LEAVE THIS TOWN
(2020, dir. Mariusz Wilczyński)

Fleeing from despair after losing those dearest to him, a man hides in a safe land of memories, where time stands still and all those dear to him are still alive.

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 November 21, 3pm and 5:30pm at Vilas Hall
Movies screened on the second day of Madison Polish Film Festival

November 21 at 3 pm

BACK THEN
(2020, dir. Kinga Dębska)

...In the room behind the wall, my parents – Tadek and Elzbieta – live their married life. He is a constantly humiliated intelligent by the system who silently envies his prosperous brother-in-law. She is the president of the company’s “Solidarity” with the need for freedom and a dream to finally break out of Poland. However, the real emotions for the whole family will start when the dream orange Fiat 126p stands under the block...

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author: IRENA FRACZEK

POLISH CONSTITUTION DAY
Polish Flag Day and Day of Polonia

The main events held in Milwaukee and Chicago:

May 2 at 12pm Polish Flag Day and Polish Diaspora Day Celebration (Uroczystości Dnia Flagi RP oraz Dnia Polonii i Polaków za Granicą), Daley Plaza in Chicago, IL.

May 2 at 6pm The 1791 Constitution Celebrated through Words, Music and Imagery (Konstytucja 1791 świętowana słowem, muzyką i obrazem), Veterans Room, Polish Center of Wisconsin (PCW) in Franklin, WI.

All are invited to this free event sponsored by the Milwaukee Society of the Polish National Alliance in cooperation with the Polish Center of Wisconsin and support of the Polish American Congress – Wisconsin Division. Speaking at the event will be David R. Zepecki and Donald Pienkos, Prof. Emeritus of Political Science. Highlights will include the music of Fryderyk Chopin performed by Francis T. Wasielewski and the showing of posters created by the Polish Center to tell the May 3rd Constitution story (click on the image to download the flyer)

From the 1999 Senate Joint Resolution 11: Whereas, the democratic and Western−oriented ideals inherent in the first Polish Constitution live on today within a citizenry that has played a leading role in bringing an end to Communism in Eastern Europe and in the country that was the Soviet Union and whose elected representatives are presently at work building a new societal system based on the precepts of political liberty linked in spirit to Poland’s historic values as embodied in the Polish Constitution of 1791; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin recognizes the contribution of the Polish Constitution to the advancement of democracy and freedom by proclaiming May 3rd of every year, “Trzeciego Maja Day” in the state of Wisconsin and invites all citizens to join their fellow Wisconsinites of Polish descent in celebrating Polish Constitution Day, “Trzeciego Maja”.

May 7 at 11:30pm – Polish Constitution Day Parade under the motto “Freedom and Peace for All!” (“Wolność i Pokój dla Świata!”) will march down the Columbus Drive in Chicago, between Balbo Drive
and Monroe Street.

Unleashed on February 24, 2020, the Russian invasion on Ukraine created a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions. Over one million refuges have already arrived to the neighbouring countries but according to some estimates, this number can soon reach 4 million. Poland became a destination for over half of the refuges from Ukraine and judging by this proportion, the numbers might increase to 2 million.

The country of our ancestors responded with an astounding generosity to Ukrainians fleeing the war. So far over 500,000 refuges have poured into Poland and they have been welcomed with compassion and assistance offered by various branches of government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, and individual citizens – many housing the refuges in their own homes.

But the task is enormous and more help is needed...Here are some options to make donations for aiding the refugees and their selfless helpers back in Poland:

The POLONIA FOR UKRAINE fund was established by the Polish American Congress (PAC) to collect donations for serving medical needs in Ukraine and refugee needs in Poland. The funds will be distributed through the Council on Aid to Ukrainians and the Polish Red Cross. Here is a link for donating over the internet by credit card, debit or PayPal.

Donations can be also sent by checks  or called in at (773) 763-3343 during the PAC Radiothon aired on WPNA 103.1 FM on Friday March 11, Saturday March 12 and Sunday March 1st.

Another option is the POLANDS UKRAINIAN ASSISTANCE FUND established in the Polish Center of Wisconsin in Franklin WI. Avoiding the overhead costs, all monetary donations submitted to this fund (by credit card or Paypal) will go directly to the trusted people providing relief "on the ground zero" in Poland.

The HELP UKRAINE NOW fund, set up by the NYC-based Kosciuszko Foundation under the motto "Stand With Ukraine: For Your Freedom & Ours, " adopted a similar mode of funds distribution. In fact, the foundation's president is working in person on the Polish-Ukrainian border and among other deeds, has opened to the refugees his own house located close to the border.

To round off the list of choices, the Embassy of Poland in Washington D.C. suggests sending donations to these Polish humanitarian aid organizations that accept donations in foreign currences:

• Polish Center of International Aid (PCMP);
• Polish Humanitarian Action (PCMP);
• Caritas Polska (forms only in Polish);
• Ocalenie Foundation;
• Polish Medical Mission (Polska Misja Medyczna);
• Polish Red Cross (Polski Czerwony Krzyż PCK);

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2020 PEOPLE AND EVENTS OF THE YEAR

What became an established tradition in the 21st century, both chambers of Polish parliament (Sejm and Senate) proclaim selected historical figures or historical events to be celebrated as a person or event of the year.

For 2020, the members of Polish Parliament approved two historical events, one branch of science and six historical figures. Here they are in the chronological order of the related anniversaries.

On February 8, 2020, 25 years passes since the death of father Józef Maria Bocheński (1902-1995), a Dominican, logician and philosopher. He studied law in Lwów and economy in Poznań before earning two doctorates, in philosophy (University of Fribourg, Switzerland) and theology (Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome). All his life he defended the truths of faith and logic, and supported Poles fighting for freedom. As a soldier, he fought for Poland's independence in the Polish-Bolshevik War (1920) and in the Battle of Monte Cassino (1944). He also served as chaplain to Polish forces during the 1939 invasion of Poland and to the Polish II Corp under gen. Anders. Since 1945, he was a philosophy professor at the University of Fribourg (heading it between 1964-1966) and became widely known for his expertise in sovietology and philosophy of Marxism–Leninism.

February 10, 2020 marks the Centennial of the symbolic act of Poland's "Wedding to the Sea" (Zaślubiny Polski z morzem) performed to celebrate Poland's regained access to the Baltic Sea. Lost during the First Partition of Poland (1772), the free and secure access of Poland to the sea was explicitly called for in President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points and brought to life by the Versailles Treaty. The ceremony took place in Puck on February 10, 1920 after the Blue Army under General Józef Haller liberated from German control all the lands assigned to Poland as so-called Polish Corridor. During the ceremony, general Haller rode on the horse into the icy Puck Bay and threw into the water one of two platinum rings with inscription "Gdańsk – Puck February 10, 1920.” (painting by Wojciech Kossak, 1931).

Designation of 2020 as the Year of Physics honors the centennial of Polish Physical Society (established on April 11, 1920) and contributions of Polish physicists made since Poland regained independence in 1918. The interbellum physicists named in the resolution include W.Rubinowicz (quantum mechanics, theory of radiation), A.Jabłoński (photophysics), M.Mięsowicz (liquid crystals, nuclear physics) and M.Wolfke (holography, television, helium solidification). Significant contributions since 1945 include research of A. Trautman (gravitational wave theory), J.Weyssenhoff (spinning fluids) and M.Danysz & J.Pniewski (Nobel nominees for the discovery of new subatomic particles). Most recently, Polish scientists participated in research awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery of Higgs boson (2013) and neutrino oscillations (2015), as well as the prestigious "Breakthrough Prize" for neutrino research, discovery of the Higgs boson and research on gravitational waves.

May 16, 2020 brings into focus the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leopold Tyrmand (1920-1985), a seminal writer and journalist, one of the most unconventional creators of Polish literature of his time. He was revered for courage and upholding intellectual independence in the darkest times of communist rule. His novels, the iconic Bad (Zły), published in English as The Man with the White Eyes, and the uncompromising Dairy 1954 (Dziennik 1954), a unique account of absurdities of life in Stalinist Poland, still enjoy persistent popularity. When ban on playing jazz on the radio was lifted after Stalin's death (1953), Tyrmand was instrumental in setting the stage for the flourishing of jazz in Poland. In 1966, he emigrated to the United States, where he continued to brilliantly analyze and write about the system enslaving countries behind the Iron Curtain

May 18, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Saint John Paul II. Called often the "Polish Pope," the "Millennial Pope" or the "Pope Pilgrim," he has a special place in the history of Poland and the world. His life mission was to fight for the dignity and respect of every human being but he always emphasized his Polish roots. Viewing Polish heritage as a foundation of his openness to the diversity of people, he advocated dialogue between the followers of all religions. He made 104 pastoral journeys to every corner of the world. His first pilgrimage to Poland (1979) resulted in the emergence of "Solidarity", the liberation of the nation from the communist rule and reconstruction of the unity of Europe. Notably, Lithuania also celebrates 2020 as the Year of Pope John Paul II.

June 14, 1920 brings the 50th anniversary of death of Roman Ingarden (1973-1970), one of the greatest Polish philosophers known for the impressive body of work in areas stretching from the philosophy of literature and aesthetics, to the theory of cognition and ontology. After studies of mathematics and philosophy in Lwów, Göttingen, Vienna and Fribourg, he became a professor at the Jan Kazimierz University in Lwów. After the war, he taught at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and the Jagiellonian University in Kraków but between 1949-1957, he was banned from work for the critical attitude toward Soviet interpretation of Marxism. Ever a rationalist himself, he corresponded with Edith Stein for years, while Karol Wojtyła (later Pope John Paul II) and Józef Tischner (the first chaplain of the Solidarity trade union) were among his students. (Portrait by Ignacy Witkiewicz)

August 15, 2020 marks the centennial of the Battle of Warsaw fought between August 12-25, 1920 in the final stages of the Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921). The battle ended with a decisive victory of Polish forces and in the words of Lenin, the "enormous defeat" to the Red Army. Its importance went far beyond defending the independence of the newly reinstated Polish State (1918) because Polish triumph thwarted the Soviet plan to spread communism to the entire Europe. For this reason, British diplomat Edgar Vincent D'Abernon added it to the extended list of the most important battles in the world. The Polish victory is often referred to as the "Miracle at the Vistula" (Cud nad Wisłą) because thanks to the ingenious battle plan conceived by the Marshal Józef Piłsudski, it was achieved when Poles seemed to be on the verge of defeat.

October 7, 2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski (1547-1620), one of the greatest commanders in the history of Polish arms. He served the country in many high-ranking posts becoming finally the Great Chancellor of the Crown (Kanclerz Koronny) and the Grand Hetman of the Crown (Wielki Hetman Koronny). He took part in all wars fought by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during his life. His most famous victory was the battle of Klushino (1610) during the Polish–Muscovite War (1605–1618), where 3,000 of Polish cavalry (mostly the famous hussars) defeated 30,000 of the combined Russian and Swedish forces and later seized Moscow and Smolensk (1611). Stanisław Żółkiewski died a heroic death when he refused to withdraw during the Battle of Cecora (1620) fought against the invading Ottoman Turks. (Żółkiewski shown in the detail from Jan Matejko's painting "Stephen Báthory at Pskov" 1872)

On October 31, 2020, 55 years passes since the death of Lt. Col. Jan Kowalewski (1892 – 1965), an intelligence officer and amateur cryptologist who played crucial role in winning the Battle of Warsaw by breaking Soviet military codes. Upon his return from Belgium, where he studied chemistry at the University of Liège (1909-1913), he was first drafted into the Russian Army. In 1919, he landed back in Poland, joined Polish army and deciphered Soviet messages for the first time while serving under Gen. Józef Haller in Volhynia. He was immediately transferred to Warsaw, where he became a chief of the Polish General Staff's radio-intelligence department and kept breaking thousands o of Soviet ciphers with help of famous Polish mathematicians (Stanisław Leśniewski, Stefan Mazurkiewicz and Wacław Sierpiński) he recruited. This unit was a precursor of the Polish Cipher Bureau formed in 1931 and involved in breaking the Enigma code.

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author: IRENA FRACZEK

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