Austeria

The first day of war in 1914, an austeria - which is an inn - near one of the Galician roads. Jewish runaways from the nearby town seek shelter in here. There are the bourgeoisie and the poor, radicals and religious Hasids. Somewhere near there are fights going on, fires starting, Cossacks preparing for battle, but in the inn passions and feelings blossom. There are arguments and the uncalm looks cross. There are also ritual dances of the Hasids, who are unaware of the danger. The old innkeeper Tag, a wise and experienced man, realizes the vague of the situation and decided to fulfill his moral duty to the end.

The movie, based on a novel (1966) by Julian Stryjkowski (1905-1996), is a nostalgic, poetic and cruel vision of the history and culture of the Polish Jews with their believings, traditions, legends and original humor.

"We wanted" said Jerzy Kawalerowicz "the film to be a movie of great metaphor, similar to a passionate, dynamic painting, which shows the world of Jews a moment before the tragical doom." "Austeria" was announced to be one of the best movies of the director - the movie won the Gold Lions at the festival in Gdańsk.