The concert by the band The Peasants brings texture to the rural landscape through accordion, trumpets, and drums, all beating to the rhythm of the earth.
Weaving a canvas soaked in love, desire, and suffering against the backdrop of the traditional Polish village, the painterly animation The Peasants, directed by DK and Hugh Welchman, arrives at TIFF in a unique format. Today, June 18, starting at 7:00 PM, the film will be accompanied by a live concert at the Student Culture House, performed by Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski and the Rebel Babel Film Orchestra – the same ensemble that brought the original soundtrack to life.
Based on the novel of the same name by Władysław Reymont, The Peasants centers on Jagna, a gentle and free-spirited young woman, caught in a world where women are expected to play only one role: that of the wife. At first, Jagna embodies the pastoral dream – the beauty and innocence of a country girl, as if taken from an old painting. But this dream is only an illusion. When the young woman dares to defy the crushing norms imposed on her, the village does not forgive her boldness. Punishment comes swiftly and cruelly, like a judgment handed down by the earth itself.
Using the same painterly technique as Loving Vincent, every frame of The Peasants is hand-painted in oil on canvas. These individual pieces flow together in a cinematic ritual where story, image, and sound breathe in unison. The music, composed by the unmistakable Łukasz L.U.C. Rostkowski and performed live by the Rebel Babel Film Orchestra, adds a distinctive dimension to the entire experience. In a soundscape that bridges both the archaic and the contemporary, the resonance of choral voices enhances the traditional Polish instruments. These, in turn, blend with unique regional instruments like the Płock fiddle, flute, and bagpipes. Mazurkas, polkas, and echoes of old Slavic melodies rise from the score with a powerful vibration, filtered through modern arrangements and sound processing techniques. It’s a vigorous, unforgettable experience that promises to transport you into a landscape steeped in Polish tradition.
Wednesday, June 18, 7:00 PM / Student Culture House