Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Maciej J. Drygas Montaggio / Editing: Rafał Listopad Musica / Music: Paweł Szymański Compartment 2, Car 7 Suono / Sound: Saulius Urbanavičius Produzione / Produced by: Drygas Film Production Coproduzione / Co-produced by: Era Film, Fixa Film, Telewizja Polska in associazione con / in association with Eye Filmmuseum – Amsterdam Con il sostegno di / Supported by: Polish Film Institute, Lithuanian Film Centre
Trains is a documentary fresco composed exclusively of archival footage and sound design. It emerges from this a collective portrait of the people of the 20th century, capturing their hopes, desires, dramas, and tragedies—the hallmarks of this century.
“Trains is a documentary crafted in the found footage genre, using archival film materials from 46 archives around the world. One of the most significant and time-consuming challenges was finding a common thread to unify sequences to be edited from materials created in different eras and technologies (the oldest unique archival footage dates back to the early 20th century). The narration of this wordless film relies on the interplay between visuals and a highly developed sound design. This film harnesses the vast potential of cinematic language to forge an emotional connection between the viewer and the archival reality.” (M. J. Drygas)
Maciej J. Drygas
Renowned film and radio director, screenwriter, producer, Maciej J. Drygas was born in 1956 in Łódź, Poland. A professor at the Polish National Film School in Łódź (PWSFTviT), his works have received numerous prestigious awards. He is the originator and founder of the Filmoteka Narodowa at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Warsaw. His films and radio documentaries have been broadcasted across Europe, as well as in Canada, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, New Caledonia, and Australia. Trains premiered at the latest IDFA in Amsterdam where was awarded Best Film and Best Editing
filmografia scelta / selected filmography
1984 Psychoterapia TV 1991 Uslyszcie mój krzyk (Hear My Cry) mm / ml doc.; Premi / Awards: European Film Award – Migliore documentario europeo dell’anno / Best European Documentary of the Year; Krakow FF – Dragone d’argento / Silver Dragon 1994 Stan nieważkości (State of Weightlessness) doc. 2002 Głos nadziei doc. 2006 Jeden dzień w PRL (One Day in the People’s Poland) doc.; Premi / Awards: Krakow FF – Dragone d’argento / Silver Dragon 2011 Cudze listy doc. 2013 Abu Haraz doc. 2024 Pociągi (Trains) doc.; Premi / Awards: IDFA – Migliore lungometraggio documentario, Migliore montaggio / Best Film, Best Editing
