An outstanding Polish movie director Janusz Morgenstern died on September 6th.

He was 89 years old.He was a head of Movies’ Studio Perspective and the graduate of the Film School in Łódź. One of Andrzej Wajda’s closest associates, they worked together during directing the movie “Kanał”(“Canal” 1956). Morgenstern was also the second director of Wajda’s movie”Popiół i diament”(“Ashes and Diamond” 1958) and “Lotna” (1959).

He debuted as director in 1960 with “Do widzenia, do jutra” (“Good Bye, See You Tomorrow”) , with Zbigniew Cybulski and Teresa Tuszyńska. Other prominent images he directed are „Jowita” (1967) and „Trzeba zabić tę miłość” (“You Have to Kill This Love” 1972).

The war years and the subsequent Stalinist-era in Poland were at the centre of his work, notably in a popular television series “Stawka większa niż życie” (Stakes Larger Than Life) shot in1967-68 in which secret agent Captain Hans Klos outwitted both the Nazis and the Soviets.

Moreover he was the main author of the popular Polish tv series: “Kolumbowie”(“Columbuses” 1970) and “Polskie drogi (“Polish Roads “1977). His last movie was the “Mniejsze zło” (“Lesser of Two Evils” 2009).

In 2005 Morgenstern was awarded the Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis. In 2008 he received the Eagle Award of the Polish Film Academy for the “Achievements of life.” In 2010, during the 35th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia the director was awarded the Platinum Lions for lifetime achievement.

A modest, amiable, sociable, natural man. Top professional in the field art. For years he supported  construction of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews with his authority. Great loss for Polish culture.

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)