An exploration of Polish literature and film. Part one focuses on screen adaptations of Olga Tokarczuk's books. Part two is a conversation with Polish film critic Michał Oleszczyk on Andrzej Wajda and his book adaptations, his influence on Polish cinema, the flourishing of Polish film under communism and new directors and films worth attention. Part three is a conversation with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska from ZNAK, one of the biggest Polish publishing houses. This conversation focuses on the state of publishing in Poland and the process of adapting books to the screen.

Part 1: Olga Tokarczuk's books in English and film adaptations

• "Primevial and Other Times", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2010, Twisted Spoon Press
• "House of Day, House of Night", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2002, Granta; 2003, Northwestern University Press; 2025, Firzcarraldo Editions
• "Flights", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2018, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
• "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2019, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
• "The Books of Jacob", trans. Jennifer Croft, 2022, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions
• "Empusium", trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones, 2024, Riverhead Books/Fitzcarraldo Editions

• Żurek, directed by Ryszard Brylski, 2003, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story from "Gra na wielu bębenkach"
• Spoor, directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, 2017, based on Olga Tokarczuk's "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead"
• Winter of the Crow, directed by Kasia Adamik, 2025, based on Olga Tokarczuk's story "Gra na wielu bębenkach"

Also the staging of "Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead" at the Barbican Theatre, directed by Simon McBurney, 2022.

Part 2: Interview with Michał Oleszczyk

Andrzej Wajda's films

• Ashes and Diamonds, based on Jerzy Andrzejewski's book
• Man of Marble
• The Ashes, based on Stefan Żeromski's book
• Pan Tadeusz, based on Adam Mickiewicz's long poem
• The Wedding, based on Stanisław Wyspiański's play in verse
• Maids of Wilko, based on Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz's novella
• Rough Treatment
• The Promised Land, based on Władysław Reymont's novel
• The Orchestra Conductor

Other notable Polish directors:

• Agnieszka Holland
• Andrzej Żuławski
• Piotr Szulkin
• Witold Leszczyński
• Aleksander Ford
• Walerian Borowczyk
• Krzysztof Kieślowski
• Roman Polański
• Jerzy Skolimowski

New directors to watch out for:

• Paweł Pawlikowski
• Jan Matuszyński
• Jan Komasa
• Agnieszka Smoczyńska
• Aleksandra Terpińska

Part 3: Interview with Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska

Writers mentioned:

• Małgorzata Szejnert
• Wojciech Jagielski
• Wiesław Myśliwski ("The Needle's Eye")
• Małgorzata Lebda ("Voracious") and forthcoming adaptation by Jagoda Szelc
• Władysław Reymont's "The Peasants" and its adaptation
• Adam Mirek's "The Guts" and its forthcoming adaptation
• Heweliusz
• 365 days
• Forgotten Love

eurolitnetwork.com/the-polka-podcast

instytutpolski.pl

Thank you to our guests, Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Michał Oleszczyk and Ewa Bolińska-Gostkowska.