A new interview with Borys Lankosz, director of the Polish hit film Rewers, Reverse (2009). Set in the 1950's, this film is
shot first in black and white, then in color; it tells the story of the sweet and innocent Sabina (30) who lacks adventure and romance in her life until she meets Bronislaw, bringing a world of desire and excitement into her former
colorless world. 

me: What inspired you about this story? And can you speak to us about the dreamy style in which you directed your film?

Borys: I was studying in Polish Film School in Lodz when Wojciech J. Has was still alive. He was an artistic supervisor of my film on the second year program. I remember our first meeting to discuss script I had just finished. He asked me about the meaning of one of the scenes. I explained that it is a dream of the main character. Has was old and ill and rather taciturn by nature. But I had this feeling that every sentence I hear from him is perfectly to the point. I remember him saying then, 'In the film I supervise, no one will be dreaming'. I was surprised. It was told by a man who made most oneiric sequences I have ever seen in films (just think about his;'Saragossa Manuscript';!). It took me a while to understand what my old master tried to say. I read my script again. Suddenly everything seemed to be too obvious in its symbolism, too simple in its attempt to create dreamy impression. A film by its nature is like a dream. When you want to dream within a dream it takes a great idea to achieve that effect. One of the ways is to show everything as real as possible and then to start discovering these tiny rifts in the reality you created. These rifts should be bigger and bigger in time. I tried to make it in my short student film back then and that's what I still do. And all of this was inspired by one sentence from my mentor, Wojciech Jerzy Has.

me: When did you know you had to be a director and nothing else?

Borys: I had this strange feeling that my film was a living creature that was born sucking my blood out. It was like my veins were connected to some kind of horrible machine which took all of my energy. It was a kind of sadomasochistic experience I guess, because in the same time I felt unforgettable pleasure making it.

me: Can you tell us how you began to make films? And something about your journey from knowing you had to
make films to actually becoming an internationally recognized director?

Borys: I was making my films since I was 14, but just after the film school I didnt feel quite ready to make a feature. I didn't want to make a film about itching of my nose, although I knew that it is trendy and it's a privilege of my youth. That's why I decided to start with documentaries (and not with a commercials or TV series which was tempting). I believe I have grown up through all these years I spent working on the true stories, meeting real people and their traumas (these kinds of subjects were always finding me, no vice versa). I have shot my films in the countries I would probably never be able to visit, like Zimbabwe or Iran. I have evolved and I felt ready when the chance for Reverse appeared.

me: Do you think it's easier or harder to make films the second time? Some people say that their first film is their best and others their worst.

Borys: These ‘some people' you have mentioned, I call them ironically ‘friendly ones'. I have met a lot of them after success of Reverse. They always start with the congratulations and then they say something like I am really pity on you. Right now it will be so difficult to repeat that with your next film. I have the impression that they want to infect me with some kind of paranoia.  That kind of thinking would never appeared in my mind naturally. It comes from ‘outside' and thus it has no impact on me unless I allow it to do so. And I won't. Believe it or not, this kind of ‘wishes' for a filmmaker I encounter mainly in Eastern European countries where you are not necessary worth as much as your latest film.

me: What can you say is your best unique trait as an auteur director?

Borys: Schizophrenia. Being as tough as I can, saving all delicacy.

me: Can you tell us about the underlying symbolism in Rewers? What do you really want to say about Polish culture with this film?

Borys: This is a story about those times when human dignity was being broken and about the woman in inescapable situation who saved her honor killing the man she loved.

me: What would you say is your true voice as a writer/filmmaker?

Borys: For a long time I have been interested in all the kinds of oppressions that a person can encounter. Reverse gave me the opportunity to talk about one of them. I guess, I wanted to give hope to all of those who may face a similar situation. But first of all, with my films I believe I try to tame the feeling of alienation. I can find this motif in every one of them.

me: What is your next film? Can you speak of this yet?

Borys: I have few projects in development in Poland and US and I am sure that it will be much easier now then with my first film. Partly because people in my homeland have created Egregore through Reverse extraordinary reception. So I feel I am in good hands.

me: What would you say to people out there who will criticize you as an artist and your film?

Borys: When I look around I can clearly see that real film critics are a species threatened with extinction. That's why I love them. We should really take care of them. Support them. They deserve our love!

me: Thanks Borys. Can't wait to escape into the new captivating world of your next film! And see you at film festivals worldwide! 

Interview by Vanessa McMahon on July 22, 2010

See film trailer here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGGtjec0eC4 

stills from Rewers (2009)