Poles on Film (De)stereotyping Polish Labor Migration in Contemporary European Cinema

New Londoners

Immigration Narratives in Contemporary Polish CultureKris Van HeuckelomK.U.Leuvenkris@vanheuckelom.be

A Polish emigrant boarding the 'General Grant' (1907, Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Adam Mickiewicz, The Books of the Polish Nation and the Polish Pilgrimage (Paris 1832)3

Manuela Gretkowska, We Are Immigrants Here & Paris Tarot (Warsaw 1991 & 1993)

Londoners, Polish Public Television (TVP 1), 2008-2009 (2 seasons, 29 episodes)Mazierska 2009Polish migration to the UK in the 'new' European Union: after 2004

(in K. Burrell (ed.), Polish migration to the UK in the 'new' European Union: after 2004)

Mazierska 2009Polish migration to the UK in the 'new' European Union: after 2004

they [Polish films] treat an emigrant as an anomaly from the norm and a problem for which somebody is to blame (p. 123) Polish emigrants are rarely featured in films produced in other countries (p. 109)UK 1982dir. Jerzy Skolimowski

The Grass Is Greener Everywhere ElseBRD 1989dir. Michael Klier

The IllegalFrance 1994dir. Jean-Louis Bertucelli

Ant StreetAustria 1995dir. Michael Glawogger

The Ballad of the Windscreen WashersItaly 1998dir. Peter Del MonteThe Polish BrideThe Netherlands 1998dir. Karim TradiayAustria 2003dir. Ruth Mader

yFour Weeks in June

Sweden 2004dir. Henry MeyerUK 2007dir. Ken LoachUK 2007dir. Dominic Lees

UK 2008dir. Shane Meadows

Strong identification of labor migration and Polish ethnicity

Labor migrants are (often) Poles

Poles are (often) labor migrantsTwo categories

The action takes place

1. during communism

2. after the fall of communismFirst category

1. Polish main characters

2. Rare & unpleasant contacts with locals

3. Tragic elementsMoonlighting

Second category

1. Polish & local main characters

2. Interethnic love story

3. The newcomer helps the locals and solves their problems

postmodern migrant

political emigrant

Exile vs. Gastarbeiter

Andrzej

Andrzejs future father-in-law

Polska vs. Obczyzna

Nina

Interethnic romances & marriagesSeason 1, final episode(engagement of Darek & Mariola)

Season 2, final episode(wedding of Darek & Mariola)

Season 2, final episode(wedding of Andrzej & Asia)

Polish couples in Londyczycy

Nina

Pawe defends Polish interests

Andrzej the Polish problem solver

New Londoners

Immigration Narratives in Contemporary Polish CultureKris Van HeuckelomK.U.Leuvenkris@vanheuckelom.be