Sundance 2019 – The Tough
A discovery arouses a man's imagination and propels him forward in an uncouth and obsessive way. Step by step, the camera participates as he explores places hitherto unknown to humankind, which offer increasing resistance to human delicacy.
Interview with Writer/Director Marcin Polar
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I gained my experience as a caver at the same time as being a filmmaker. I have been doing this for some years and one day I came to an idea to combine these two worlds. No one before – at least in Poland – has done this..
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film can be the only opportunity for the viewer to feel real, dangerous underground exploration. During the shooting I tried to show, most conscientiously, the reality of this harsh unpleasant surroundings. The struggles that the main character of my movie experienced are an excuse to open a discussion on human curiosity and maverick exploration activities.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It wasn’t easy to edit the footage in the way which tells some universal thoughts and emotions, while at the same time being understandable not only for cavers but for the ordinary viewer. What’s interesting is that the form that we’ve chosen makes our film boring for the cavers because it shows the things that are obvious for them. But what is obvious for them, for someone who knows nothing about the cave exploration, can be shocking. I worked tirelessly on forgetting my previous experiences in caves and look at the subject through fresh eyes and objectively and try to understand which of the actions achieved underground can be a message of some truth about the human and can create this story. But I must admit that at the same time it’s also a very personal point of view – for me and for my hero who was involved in the filmmaking process.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The whole production period was a big revolution in my thinking about scriptwriting and its realization. We had visited the cave many times filming it in many ways. Repeatedly we had to change the way we think about it and our approach to the subject. It all made the production take a long time, almost 6 years. Surprisingly the final version of the film is very similar to my first idea but the way that we went with Jarek between the script and final cut was long.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Apparently our movie impresses people, but it’s not a nice impression. For the claustrophobic person it can be unbearable to watch until the end. At the same time, the film can open the viewers’ minds for some fundamental issues on human cognitive nature.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was surprised by such a good reception of the film. During the production I often doubted if I would manage and if the film would be at least that good as my previous one short documentary “Collection”. I must admit that the presence of the film at Sundance Film Festival lifts my spirits and fills me up with positive energy to make another movie.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
The most important now is to reach the widest audience all over the world and I hope that www.wearemovingstories.com can be very helpful with achieving this goal.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope this film will find a new value somewhere between mountain film and documentary genres.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What pushes people to do such strange and dangerous things around the world? Why do they do that? What does that kind of activity mean for humanity?
Would you like to add anything else?
I want to invite everyone who would have such a possibility to watch this film.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm working now on two documentary films and starting to work on a short fiction script.
Interview: January 2019
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The Tough
A discovery arouses a man's imagination and propels him forward in an uncouth and obsessive way. Step by step, the camera participates as he explores places hitherto unknown to humankind, which offer increasing resistance to human delicacy.
Length: 14:00
Director: Marcin Polar
Producer: Ewa Jastrzebska, Munk Studio, Polish Filmmakers Association
Writer: Marcin Polar
About the writer, director and producer:
MARCIN POLAR is a director, cinematographer, photographer. A graduate from the Krakow Film School, and Cinematography, Direction and Art Photography at the Radio and Television Faculty of the University of Silesia in Katowice. Creator of documentaries, short films, music videos and commercials. He has vast experience in filming in extreme conditions, often using mountaineering, aerial, and underwater techniques. His first short documentary "Collection" was screened at major festivals all over the world. His second one "The Tough" has its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2019.
Key cast:
Looking for: film festival directors, journalists, buyers
Facebook: The Tough
Website: https://sp.kff.com.pl/en/films/the-tough/
Other: IMDB
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Sundance Film Festival, USA