Watching Wielka majówka Together with Zbigniew Zamachowski in Grudziądz
The film Wielka majówka, directed by Krzysztof Rogulski, is today considered one of the most interesting works of Polish cinema from the early 1980s. Combining elements of a road movie, social drama, and bitter social satire, the production gained cult status over the years. On May 28, fans of Polish cinema will once again have the opportunity to see the film during a screening organized by the Film Discussion Club, accompanied by a meeting with a special guest – Zbigniew Zamachowski.
Zbigniew Zamachowski was one of the key figures of the 22nd International Tofifest in 2024 in Toruń. The actor received the prestigious Golden Angel Award for Creative Rebellion and also served as a juror in the main competition and the “On Air” section. This year’s 24th edition of the festival will take place from June 27 to July 3.
Wielka majówka tells the story of Rysiek and Julek – two young men who meet by chance during the May holiday weekend. Rysiek, played by Zamachowski, steals over one million złoty from a wealthy man’s house and sets off on a journey across Poland. For Zbigniew Zamachowski, this was his big-screen debut, which – as he has often emphasized – determined his decision to pursue an acting career. He is accompanied by Julek, portrayed by Jan Piechociński. Their shared journey becomes not only a story of youthful friendship and dreams of freedom, but also a portrait of the final years of communist Poland – a world filled with greyness, frustration, and unfulfilled ambitions.
The film still impresses audiences today with its authentic atmosphere of the era. The filmmakers portrayed Poland in the early 1980s from the perspective of young people searching for their place in life and trying to break free from everyday routine. The film is full of ironic humor, yet beneath its light form lies a bitter social diagnosis and a reflection on loneliness and the need for freedom.
An inseparable element of the film is also the music of the band Maanam. The soundtrack was composed by Marek Jackowski, while Kora Jackowska performed five songs that perfectly capture the atmosphere of youthful rebellion and anxiety characteristic of that period.
The screening will take place on May 28 at 6:00 PM at the Theatre as part of the Film Discussion Club. After the screening, audiences will have the opportunity to meet Zbigniew Zamachowski, whose body of work includes dozens of outstanding film and theatre roles. The actor is known, among others, for films such as Three Colors: White, With Fire and Sword, Squint Your Eyes, Hi, Tereska, Turned Back, and Pitbull. Last Dog. He is the recipient of numerous film and theatre awards, including two Polish Eagles and the Zbyszek Cybulski Award.
Department of Promotion
Paweł Jankowski
May 22, 2026