AT 82, POLISH GREAT WAJDA TURNS TO "CONTEMPORARY" ISSUES

Legendary Polish film director Andrzej Wajda, who has chronicled his country's turbulent history in numerous features, including his current film Katyn, about the slaughter of Polish military officers by Soviet troops at the beginning of World War II, says he now wants to explore contemporary issues. Wajda, who turns 82 on March 2, told a news conference at the Berlin Film Festival that he has made his last film about Poland's misery at the hands of Germany and Russia. "I do not wish to return to this subject anymore. I'm an old man now," he said. "Having made this film (Katyn), I would now like to conclude that chapter of my life." He indicated that he is looking to make a film about the exodus of young Poles from the country and the difficulties they face adjusting to life abroad. Asked about Katyn being used as a substitute at the opening of the Bangkok Film Festival last year after the controversial French film Persepolis was yanked because of protests from the Iranian government, Wajda indicated that he had no qualms about replacing it. "That was quite normal for me," he said, "For 50 years, I lived in a country, after all, which had censorship ... and I had to accept the fact that a lot of [my films] could not be screened at festivals."

15/02/2008