ONLY VOID IS LIES BEYOND THE BIBLICAL DISCUSSIONS ...

Aleksander Sokurov and professor Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski PhD. Hab. enter the laureates fellowship of the Pontifical Council for Culture - Per Artem ad Deum A visit to Targi Kielce was the chance for them to meet those, who appreciate the laureates' achievements.  

The conference was moderated and foreword on sacral aspect of films will was delivered by rev.  Marek Lis, a theologian, a film expert, the professor at the University of Opole, a member of the ecumenical jury at film festivals including the one in Cannes.

 His lecture was preceded with a "live" interview conducted by Bishop Michał Janocha - the arts historian, a professor at the University of Warsaw with Fr. professor  Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski a Dominican, a theologian, a professor of philosophy who has been decorated with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. In his speech, the father professor Kłoczowski addressed kitsch in art, including sacred art.  - One of the beauty dimensions is its selflessness - he observed. In his speech, father professor Kłoczowski also related to the wasy God
 is treated and regarded today. Professor made a parallel to Meister Eckhart's thoughts - in one of his sermons Eckhart compared god to a candle used by some to attain their goals.  Heving satisfied one's desire, one puts the candle out as it is no longer needed.

The next item in the conference program was Father Michał Legan's lecture on the work of the greatest films directors who borders the sacral themes.  After his speech, the guests gathered at the conference had the opportunity to participate in another interview - a conversation between Irina Tatarova - a film analyst and researcher and Aleksander Sokurova, a Russian director and screenwriter, the winner of the Golden Lion at the 68th  Venice International Film Festival for his adaptation of the Faust.  By the resolution of the European Film Academy, Sokurov was pronounced one of the 100 best directors.  His presentation was very emotional. The wonderful director described himself as a simple man. He reccollets his secret baptism in Kalingrad and the difficult situation in the country where his films were often subject to censorship.  And this is how he describes the role of art - Often ordinary life situations make us seek the help of beautiful words. We find the art, yet everything that is beautiful perishes.  And we have to start this whole process from anew.  -  This is supplemented with him saying:  - The times of beautiful words is now over.  The words have been saved, multiplied. There is the need for action now.  The director admits that it was a great respect for the accolade's significance that made him accept it. He also mentions the deeper, underlying intention:  - I have come here also to have a chance to say it out loud: it is time to stop absurd. It is the time to raise your head
and demand politicians to stop fighting. - he added. On the role of contemporary directors: - Most of today's directors have no idea about religion. 99.9% of them have not read the Bible, they did not even bother. The cinematic milieus are the most wild and dangerous. 
And tehy have a deadly cold-steel weapon. And they use this weapon against the viewers. -  recapitulated the director.  In the following part of the presentation he added: - Only Void is lies beyond THE biblical discussions ... And this is the problem of today's culture. There is just a handful of people share Christian ideals and are thus able to translate them into the language of art.  - After a moment of reflection he adds: - No one can stop the cinema and the cinematic message. In order to stop its aggression, a great will of politicians and people who are capable of thinking is really needed. The cinema devours Europe's humanism.  Wounds inflicted by thoughtless and thoughtless cinema are not easy to heal. Directors
and producers are not interested what mood they put the films recipients in. That is a big responsibility. Great power - he adds.

The conference participants:

 Father  Marek Lis- a Catholic priest, a habilitated doctor in theology, an associate professor at the University of Opole. A co-editor of the World encyclopedia of religious films.

HE Bishop professor  Michał Janocha - an arts historian, associate professor at the University of Warsaw and Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw, Chairman of the Council for  Culture and  Heritage Preservation.

Father Professor Jan Andrzej Kłoczowski - a Dominican, a theologian and a professor of philosophy. He teaches philosophy of God and religion as well as the 19th and 20th century philosophy history at the College of Philosophy and Theology of the  Dominicans in Krakow.  The Per Artem ad Deum Laureat in 2018.

Father Michał Legan PhD. OSPPE - a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, an expert in the field of cinematography.

Irina Tatarova PhD. - an assistant professor at the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research "Artes Liberales" of the University of Warsaw.  She deals with sacred art as a part of broadly defined tradition, films and philosophical analysis of cinematic works.

Aleksander Sokurov - a Russian director and screenwriter, the winner of the Golden Lion at the 68th  Venice International Film Festival for his adaptation of the Faust.  By the resolution of the European Film Academy, Sokurov was pronounced one of the 100 best directors.  The Per Artem ad Deum Laureat in 2018.

The meeting concluded with a photo session of the laureates and participants of the conference designed to preserve the memories.

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