My Nikifor

Based on the life of Epifan Drowniak, famed naïve painter Nikifor Krynicki, who was discovered in 1960 by another painter, Marian Wlosiński. The latter was working on the décor of the spa buildings in Krynice where Nikifor offered his paintings to the spa guests. From there, Nikifor settled into Marian’s workspace. The academic painter started to look after him, fascinated as he was by the purity and grace of the primitive painter’s artistic manifestations. In his effort to understand the phenomenon of the physically and mentally disabled man, Marian gave up his own work and even his family life. Devotedly, not demanding any response or sign of gratitude, he secured a social foundation for Nikifor, and in 1967 organized an exhibition at a prestigious Warsaw gallery.... The film takes its style from Nikifor’s naïve manner of seeing, and the protagonist is played by 80-year-old Krystyna Feldman with perfect empathy. (source: Catalogue 40th Karlovy Vary IFF)