BODO

dir. Michał Kwieciński, Michał Rosa, 2016

TV biographical series about the life of Eugeniusz Bodo, one of the most popular film, theatre and revue actors in Poland in the 1920s and 1930s. Over the course of 13 episodes, the creators decided to take a look at Eugeniusz Bodo's journey from Łódź to the salons of interwar Warsaw. The young Bodo, played by Antoni Królikowski, liked to spend his time in the “Urania” cinema-theatre founded by his father. One day, fed up with failures at school, his mother's unrealistic expectations, and the lack of understanding from the girl he has feelings for, Bodo decides to leave home and, stubbornly believing in his talent, sets off for the capital. This is the start of his bumpy career path that will ultimately give him what he craves: fame and the adoration of the crowds. The role of the mature Bodo is bravely played by Tomasz Schuchardt.

The credits state that the series is inspired by the biography of Eugeniusz Bodo, but is not a faithful reconstruction of the facts. There are quite a few deviations from the true story of his life. Producer and director Michał Kwieciński admitted that over the years a number of scripts about Eugeniusz Bodo had come across his production desk, but all of them focused on his last years of life and death in a Russian gulag. Kwieciński was more interested in showing the lush interwar period, the explosion of all kinds of creativity after the end of the 1^st World War. The series was also intended to appeal to a young audience, thanks to the presence of young actors. The creators wanted to present the inter-war period as an era close to the present day: the actors do not speak with a backward ‘l’ and the dialogues do not contain old-fashioned phrases. Many of the hairstyles and costumes are designed to look contemporary. And then there is the panache of the production, the elaborate music, choreography and set design, which transports the viewer to a distant world while paying tribute to the forgotten artists of the time. If we assume that the creators of the series deliberately did not stick rigidly to the biography of Eugeniusz Bodo, we are dealing with a rather universal story with a young and ambitious character, who is willing to sacrifice a lot for fame and recognition. He is a complex character, ambiguous, sometimes cruel, often lonely, who tries to make his mark in the artistic bohemian milieu by means which are not necessarily elegant.

The shooting of the “Bodo” series also took place in several locations in Łódź:

Jozef Hofman Tenement House, 101 Piotrkowska Street

Scenes from Eugeniusz Bodo's school years were filmed in the courtyard at 101 Piotrkowska Street. Here, in a quite tasteful bourgeois flat, he lives with his mother, Dorota (played by Agnieszka Wosińska). His neighbour is his school friend Ada (Anna Pijanowska), Bohdan's great unfulfilled love. At the very end of the yard, on the ground floor, lives with his family his friend Moryc Blum (played by Piotr Żurawski), a poor Jewish boy whose only window on the world seems to be the one by which he sews on his machine. Although their social status and family situations differ greatly, they are genuinely close. Sitting by the open window at Moryc's, they engage in philosophical reflections on life, plotting visions of the future. Bodo, full of dreams, wants to break away from the expectations imposed on him. Moryc is a tailor, like his father. He feels disillusioned by this city that was supposed to be the promised land. On his way out Bodo whispers to his friend: Have you never thought of running away from here? Which seems to already reveal to us what plans the future great artist has. And they are completely different plans from those his mother has for her only son. In addition, a fight breaks out between Bohdan and his friend Hans over Ada. Bodo feels that he doesn't stand a chance with the girl, and she also disappoints him somewhat with her lack of faith in the magic of cinema. As he wipes his nose clean of blood, Moryc, trying to console him, declares that if only Bodo decides to run away, he wants to go with him. He augurs to his friend that he will still be a hundred times bigger than Hans. The next day it turns out that Eugene has disappeared and no one has any idea where he has gone.

46 Piotrkowska Street

At this address, in the courtyard, is a small single-storey building that in the series was the home of the Urania theatre run by Bodo's father, Teodor Junod. In reality, the theatre run by Teodor and his partner was located a few numbers earlier. However, the creators of the series decided that the courtyard at 46 Piotrkowska Street, with its single-storey annex, better reflected the atmosphere of Łódź during the First World War, when the young Bodo takes his first steps on stage. It is here that Eugeniusz delightedly tells his schoolmate Hans (Adam Fidusiewicz) who he adores, Michał Orda.

On the pretext of meeting Hans, Bodo lures Ada to Urania. He hopes that the cinema screening will help him win the girl's heart. She, although initially seems fascinated by the screening, ultimately fails to succumb to its magic and, feeling cheated, reproaches Bohdan.

1a Moniuszki Street

When young Bodo takes his first steps in the capital, he actually goes through the gate passage at 1a Moniuszki Street and emerges onto a sunlit, busy street. It is also at this gate that he is robbed by a local sly man, Antek Piekutowski. This incident will actually become the beginning of a true friendship.

Maximilian Goldfeder Palace, 77 Piotrkowska Street

An exotic revue artist, Reri (Patrycja Kazadi), arrives in Warsaw. Bodo (Tomasz Schuchardt) is enchanted by the girl and, immediately after her performance, takes her to a secluded restaurant in the capital, which is transformed into a Lódź venue. In the background, you can recognise the characteristic sliding stained-glass doors. Bodo asks about the artist's collaboration with the famous German director Friedrich Murnau. They also talk about his tragic death.

Palace of Karol Poznanski, Gdańska Street

For the series, the palace where the Academy of Music is based has been transformed into the capital's Royal Hotel. This is where the exotic beauty, Reri, is staying. Bodo drives the girl back to the hotel after their first evening together at a restaurant. He later arrives at the hotel several times in the hope of deceiving the artist's agents and worming his way into the girl's good graces.

Biedermann Palace, ⅕ Franciszkańska Street

The palace's representative lobby played the reception area of a hotel in Algeria, where the entire filming crew for the film The Voice of the Desert starring Eugene Bodo is staying.