Crulic – The Path to Beyond

The film “Crulic – Droga na drugą stronę” (Crulic – The Path to Beyond) directed by Anca Damian is an exceptional blend of animated documentary and fiction. It tells the true story of the Rumanian emigrant Claudiu Crulic, who was wrongly accused of having stolen a wallet in Krakow and subsequently arrested. In prison, Claudiu wants to prove his innocence and starts a hunger strike as a symbol of resistance. But he becomes a victim of a system that completely fails in all areas: Claudio dies of starvation after four months, without having received support from the Polish justice system or the Rumanian Embassy. Claudiu Crulic’s story is told by the protagonist himself posthumously in the form of an ironic narration. The Rumanian director’s use of irony reinforces the absurdity of the protagonist’s dramatic situation, leading to the inability of those institutions which, paradoxically, were established to provide support for citizens. The spatial environment in the film corresponds closely with the protagonist’s monologue, thereby intensifying the dramaturgy of the incidents. It involves a very distinct and multifaceted collage technique: ranging from hand-painted animation to cut-out and stop-motion animation. This extraordinary film dedicated to Claudiu’s tragic story became one of the most esteemed Polish animation films at international film festivals in 2011 and served as an impressive example for foreign coproductions, for which Poland played a major role. (aso/ps)
Voices: Sandrine Bonnaire, Vlad Ivanov, Jamie Sives