Tumult Over Lodz (Tumult nad Łodzią)

A distinctly unusual film edited almost entirely using archival footage collected over twenty years of Camerimage film festival, television news, amateur photos posted online by anonymous authors, official recordings from Łódź city council sessions, as well as eye-catching animations and hip-hop music videos. Everything shot in a variety of formats and techniques, from analog to digital. This unusual conglomeration provides a perfect backdrop for a dramatic and emotional story about the fate that has befallen the New Center of Łódź and the wonderful artistic plans destroyed by political intrigue, shortsightedness of decision makers and, finally, by simple greed and avarice. It is also a film about a struggle in defense of honor and dignity, about gradual accumulation of hatred and the great strength that lies in high art.

The film features the greatest contemporary filmmakers from all over the world, while the story, narrated by former mayor of Łódź Jerzy Kropiwnicki, revolves around David Lynch, Frank Gehry and Marek Żydowicz. We also witness young local students who go on strike in defense of culture by occupying municipal building for a week.