The Polish Embassy in Korea held a special screening of two Polish documentaries to offer a look into Polish culture and creative arts for free to the general public at Indoe Space Theater in downtown Seoul, Dec. 8.

The embassy screened director Andrzej Wolski’s “Toys” (2011) and “Political Dress” (2011) as part of a documentary film series dubbed “Guide to the Poles” for the International Cultural Program of the Polish Presidency of the European Union Council. Zofia Majka, wife of Polish Ambassador to Korea Krzysztof Majka, along with diplomats and Polish expatriates attended the film event.

“Toys” takes a look at the circumstances which shaped the imaginations of Polish people over the decades.

The toys available to Polish children were worlds apart from the toys lavished on kids in America or even Europe. Sometimes these toys were made by the children themselves.

In “Political Dress,” ordinary Poles use bright colors and home tailoring to resist against the oppressive communist regime of the era.

The documentary takes a trip through time and fashion trends, first looking at the hard-headed Stalinist era, when colorful socks could get you reprimanded by the people’s militia. Then, it turns to a Poland’s fascination with Parisian fashion in the 1960s and to the flower children of the 1970s. It ends with a look back at martial law period and the punk-rock of the 1980s.

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)