Cannon in Flowers
A film about Poland and the music of Frederic Chopin. When General Jaruzelski imposed martial law on Poland in 1981 their national radio and TV were ordered to play Chopin continuously, in an attempt to keep the nation calm. But the composer
Schumann, in an earlier age of oppression saw the irony: 'If the Tsar knew what a dangerous enemy he had in these simple, romantic pieces, he would forbid them altogether. Chopin's music is cannon hidden in flowers.' For the Poles, Chopin has always seemed in tune with their own chequered, and too often tragic, history. This film, commissioned by Omnibus from Polish director WITOLD STARECKI, shows how Poland yesterday and today uses, needs and interprets the music of its greatest composer. It becomes a portrait of the Polish people, and their obsession with Chopin, filmed at an autumn Chopin festival, during a month of performance, competition and argument. Film cameraman WIT DABAL
Sound recordist WISLAW ZNYK Film editor PETER ROSE
Executive producer LESLIE MEGAHEY Director WITOLD STARECKl