„Kompozycje przestrzenne Katarzyny Kobro”. Historia produkcyjna filmu Józefa Robakowskiego

Abstract

The author reconstructs the production history of the documentary film Kompozycje przestrzenne Katarzyny Kobro [Spatial Compositions of Katarzy­na Kobro], directed by Józef Robakowski (1971), analyzing its place within the activities of the Se-ma-for studio. Drawing on archival materials and interviews, she examines the filmmaking process, its avant-garde form, as well as production challenges and the vicissitudes of the approval process. Departing from conventional art documentaries, the film received mixed reviews—praised for its innovativeness yet criticized for its hermetic nature. Despite the controversies, it was ultimately distributed and won the audience award at the Zakopane Art Film Review. The article contributes to a broader reflection on the mechanisms of documentary film evaluation in the Polish People’s Republic and the role of the avant-garde within the institutional film production system.

Keywords

• avant-garde cinema
• documentary film
• katarzyna kobro
• józef robakowski
• film production studies