Film notation with Jacek Petrycki is one of hundreds of biographical interviews conducted by ECS’s Mediateka, but it certainly stands out from the others due to the special status of the interviewee. Jacek Petrycki is a respected Polish film director and operator who engaged in democratic opposition in the 1980s. Thus, his testimony tells the story from two perspectives. He comments past events as an artist and political activist.

As a film-maker Petrycki yet in the 1970s engaged in courageous artistic projects. He frequently cooperated with Krzysztof Kieślowski in his productions of cinema of moral anxiety (in films like ”Spokój” or ”Amator”). In the 1980s he began to document the activity of growing democratic opposition. He filmed the strikes in Gdansk Shipyard and later his recorded material served as a basis for the famous documentary “Workers 1980” (pl. “Robotnicy 80”): a film which thoroughly shows the protest’s development. His secret footages from the martial law were montaged into a film “My notes from the underground” (pl. “Moje zapiski z podziemia”). He also povided the original materials for “The City without a God” (pl. “Miasto bez Boga”) - an exceptional documentary film about the beginnings of Nowa Huta.

In ECS’s film notation Jacek Petrycki speaks about his creative work in the 1970s and 1980s. He describes the environment of Polish opposition, but also his personal experiences, relations, and views. He gives some insight into the rapprochement of Polish artists and intelligentsia who united in common goal.

Some parts of the film notation with Jacek Petrycki are presented on the permanent exhibition in the museum of the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk.