Although he knows he is not getting any younger, he is still looking for the love of his life – queer performer Lulla La Polaca is past eighty, but still eager to dance, have fun, love. However, his young soul has to compete with his aging body. What’s it like – to crave something which you can no longer keep up with? To yearn for love, having so little time to find the one? Sticking out like a sore thumb among the elderly, he comes to life when he is among the young who, unfortunately, tend to leave him behind. Lulla doesn’t belong anywhere. Suspended between the past and the future, he reminisces of his former relationship and hopes to start a new one, seeking protection from loneliness in a fantasy world.
BOYLESQUE’s protagonist doesn’t fit any label or generation: he frequents funeral homes and pride parades alike, balls for senior citizens and gay clubs. The oldest Polish drag queen is gracefully navigating a youth-adoring world and BOYLESQUE captures the tender moments with attention and affection.
There will be a live discussion following this screening.
Moderator: John Greyson
Panel: Lulla, Director Bogna Kowalczvk
Andrzej Szwan (aka Lulla La Polaca) was born on August 1938, a year before the outbreak of World War II. As a child, he ended up in the Warsaw Ghetto, from which he was saved. He spent the Warsaw Uprising in the basement with his mother and neighbors.
In 1956 he passed his high school diploma and applied for admission to studies at the State Higher School of Theater. Alexander Zelwerowicz. Later, he began studying law at the University of Warsaw. In the meantime, he started working as an official in the Capital Transport Company. He was on contracts in Libya and Iraq. In 2010, at the instigation of Kim Lee, he made his stage debut as a drag queen. Since then, he has performed in clubs and festivals related to the queer community.
In May, the film BOYLESQUE, directed by Bogna Kowalczyk, presenting Lulla, had its world premiere at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto.
In June, the play ORLANDO directed by Agnieszka Błońska, in which Lulla appeared as a guest, premiered. It is his stage debut.
Andrzej's photos appeared, among others in Vogue magazine, he also took part in the Levi's Pride 2021 and Zolando campaigns. In 2021, he appeared in Miuosh's music video for the song "Klucze".
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Bogna Kowalczyk, Director and animator, BA at the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology (New Media Arts). She spent one year at a university exchange at the Glyndwr University, Wales (Children's Illustration and Design). In September 2017 she graduated from the Lodz Film School in Direction of Animation. She currently works as creative art director, director and animator at Warsaw Production. Her work often combines traditional techniques with a modern approach. Since 2009 she has been directing animated films and music videos, she has supported dozens of student production as animator, CGI expert, script doctor and assistant director. She has worked with Universal, Sony, Netflix and other big commercial companies.
One of her most complex completed projects is the short animation Klimat i Wanilia about the BDSM culture in Warsaw. Her most experimental one is Fifth Element animated completely in dyed ice.
She has also made videos for the contemporary play #Hansel#and#Gretel at Teatr Rozmaitości, Warsaw and conceptual visuals for the concert REVE-RAVE by Wojciech Mazolewski Quintet at the KODY Festival, Lublin, Poland.
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John Greyson is an award-winning Toronto video/film artist. Since 1984, his many features, shorts and transmedia works use humour and song to explore such queer activist issues as police entrapment, prison, AIDS activism, global solidarity, homo-nationalism and apartheid. The winner of 4 Teddies, 4 Canadian screen awards, and Best Film Prizes in over 30 international festivals, his works include: Photo Booth (2022), International Dawn Chorus Day (2020), Mercurial (2018), Gazonto (2016), Murder in Passing (2013), Fig Trees (2009), Proteus(2003), Lilies (1996), Zero Patience (1993), The Making of Monsters (1991) and Urinal (1989).
- Year2022
- Runtime70 minutes
- CountryPoland
- DirectorBogna Kowalczyk
Although he knows he is not getting any younger, he is still looking for the love of his life – queer performer Lulla La Polaca is past eighty, but still eager to dance, have fun, love. However, his young soul has to compete with his aging body. What’s it like – to crave something which you can no longer keep up with? To yearn for love, having so little time to find the one? Sticking out like a sore thumb among the elderly, he comes to life when he is among the young who, unfortunately, tend to leave him behind. Lulla doesn’t belong anywhere. Suspended between the past and the future, he reminisces of his former relationship and hopes to start a new one, seeking protection from loneliness in a fantasy world.
BOYLESQUE’s protagonist doesn’t fit any label or generation: he frequents funeral homes and pride parades alike, balls for senior citizens and gay clubs. The oldest Polish drag queen is gracefully navigating a youth-adoring world and BOYLESQUE captures the tender moments with attention and affection.
There will be a live discussion following this screening.
Moderator: John Greyson
Panel: Lulla, Director Bogna Kowalczvk
Andrzej Szwan (aka Lulla La Polaca) was born on August 1938, a year before the outbreak of World War II. As a child, he ended up in the Warsaw Ghetto, from which he was saved. He spent the Warsaw Uprising in the basement with his mother and neighbors.
In 1956 he passed his high school diploma and applied for admission to studies at the State Higher School of Theater. Alexander Zelwerowicz. Later, he began studying law at the University of Warsaw. In the meantime, he started working as an official in the Capital Transport Company. He was on contracts in Libya and Iraq. In 2010, at the instigation of Kim Lee, he made his stage debut as a drag queen. Since then, he has performed in clubs and festivals related to the queer community.
In May, the film BOYLESQUE, directed by Bogna Kowalczyk, presenting Lulla, had its world premiere at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto.
In June, the play ORLANDO directed by Agnieszka Błońska, in which Lulla appeared as a guest, premiered. It is his stage debut.
Andrzej's photos appeared, among others in Vogue magazine, he also took part in the Levi's Pride 2021 and Zolando campaigns. In 2021, he appeared in Miuosh's music video for the song "Klucze".
______
Bogna Kowalczyk, Director and animator, BA at the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology (New Media Arts). She spent one year at a university exchange at the Glyndwr University, Wales (Children's Illustration and Design). In September 2017 she graduated from the Lodz Film School in Direction of Animation. She currently works as creative art director, director and animator at Warsaw Production. Her work often combines traditional techniques with a modern approach. Since 2009 she has been directing animated films and music videos, she has supported dozens of student production as animator, CGI expert, script doctor and assistant director. She has worked with Universal, Sony, Netflix and other big commercial companies.
One of her most complex completed projects is the short animation Klimat i Wanilia about the BDSM culture in Warsaw. Her most experimental one is Fifth Element animated completely in dyed ice.
She has also made videos for the contemporary play #Hansel#and#Gretel at Teatr Rozmaitości, Warsaw and conceptual visuals for the concert REVE-RAVE by Wojciech Mazolewski Quintet at the KODY Festival, Lublin, Poland.
----------
John Greyson is an award-winning Toronto video/film artist. Since 1984, his many features, shorts and transmedia works use humour and song to explore such queer activist issues as police entrapment, prison, AIDS activism, global solidarity, homo-nationalism and apartheid. The winner of 4 Teddies, 4 Canadian screen awards, and Best Film Prizes in over 30 international festivals, his works include: Photo Booth (2022), International Dawn Chorus Day (2020), Mercurial (2018), Gazonto (2016), Murder in Passing (2013), Fig Trees (2009), Proteus(2003), Lilies (1996), Zero Patience (1993), The Making of Monsters (1991) and Urinal (1989).
- Year2022
- Runtime70 minutes
- CountryPoland
- DirectorBogna Kowalczyk