JANKO THE MUSICIAN

JANKO THE MUSICIAN

Janko the Musician

(Janko Muzykant)

dir. Ryszard Ordyński, Poland, 1930

cast: Witold Conti, Maria Malicka, Aleksander Żabczyński, Wiesław Gawlikowski, Adolf Dymsza, Kazimierz Krukowski, Tekla Trapszo and others.


DCP, 105'; reconstruction 2022

source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute


A loose adaptation of a novella by Henryk Sienkiewicz. A village boy accused of attempting to steal a violin is not killed, as in the literary original, but sent to a reformatory. Years later he makes a career as a violinist, but the shadows of the past follow him.

The screening of this film as part of the Warsaw Silent Film Days is indeed a celebration for us. Janko the Musician was one of the first Polish sound films, but because the soundtrack was lost and the film had dialogue and narration boards, it was considered a silent film for the last few decades. A few years ago, the original gramophone records with the soundtrack to Janko the Musician were found. The film underwent meticulous digital restoration, interrupted several times by subsequent lockdowns. Today, for the first time after the Second World War, we have the pleasure of presenting it in its full glory, again with sound. But why are we showing it among silent films? There is no dialogue in this film and the soundtrack consists only of musical illustrations and effects, so Janko the Musician, although a sound film, is also a silent film.


section:Treasures of Silent Cinema


  introduction to the film: Michał Pieńkowski


TUESDAY | OCTOBER 25 | 19:00 | screening room: STOLICA

Free entrance | Entry tickets to be collected at the cinema box office on the day of the screening 



FINA chose the film Janko the Musician (Janko Muzykant) to be part of the series of free screenings organised by the Association Cinematheques Europeanness planned between June 2022 until December 2022 across Europe to raise awareness of the work of European national and regional film archives, especially among young adults. Most of the films are new digital restorations and some screenings include exciting elements such as live performances or experimental electronic music.

  A Season of Classic Films


ACE - logo

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute

  • JANKO THE MUSICIAN, source: National Film Archive – Audiovisual Institute