Ferdydurke

Synopsis

Thirty-year-old Joe is abducted by schoolteacher Pimko and placed in a school where “daily universal impotence” is drummed into the students.

This institutional belittlement exposes Joe to the brutality of the social, cultural, and political pretensions of both teachers and classmates. Trapped between the expectations of others and the perils of solitude, Joe finds refuge in his own childishness. Based on Gombrowicz’s surreal autobiographical novel, Skolimowski’s film brings to wonderful comic life Joe’s escape from the school, his bizarre visit to the country estate of his relatives, and the ultimate flight with his cousin beneath the giant buttocks that have usurped the sun.

Also known as: 30 Door Key.

Awards

1991 Venice Film Festival

• Nominated Golden Lion (Jerzy Skolimowski)

Credits

Iain Glen

Joey

Crispin Glover

Mintus

Robert Stephens

Prof. Pimco

Fabienne Babe

Sophie

Pawel Bawolec

Fizz

Jerzy Binczycki

Prof. Filidor

Judith Godr²che

Zoo

Krzysztof Janczar

Leo

Tadeusz Lomnicki

Uncle

Jan Peszek

Mr. Young

Beata Pozniak

Flora Gente

Marek Probosz

Syphonus

Dorota Stalinska

Mrs. Young

Zbigniew Zamachowski

Tom

Artur Zmijewski

Kopyrda

Director

Jerzy Skolimowski

Writers (original book)

Witold Gombrowicz

Writers (screenplay)

Joseph Kay
Jerzy Skolimowski

Producers

Philippe Carcassonne

Cinematography

Witold Adamek