If you’re searching for a filmmaker who has seen every part of the industry for over forty years, look no further than Agnieszka Holland. She shot films and TV movies in her native Poland during the Cold War. She directed a classic Oscar-nominated drama, “Europa Europa.” She worked on studio films in the ’90s and ’00s (including Leonardo DiCaprio‘s one gay role, “Total Eclipse“). In the 21st Century, she segued to prestige TV directing episodes of “The Wire,” “Treme,” “The Killing,” and “House of Cards.” Now, at 72-years-young, she has another feature potential headed for an Academy Award nomination, “Charlatan.”
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“I did one movie, ‘Europa Europa,’ about the importance of a man’s penis, and this one is about the importance of human’s urine,” Holland says. “So, I am fateful to myself.”
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Holland is referring to the urine Jan Mikolášek (Ivan Trojan) would look at through a shaft of light to determine what ailments a patient was suffering. Today, we’d likey refer to Mikolášek as an “herbalist,” but during the mid 20th Century, he was a “healer” with clients all around the world. After viewing their urine, Mikolášek would then prescribe roots or “mixes” for different conditions. When Czechoslovakia (now known as the Czech Republic) turned toward a more authoritarian communist rule, both Mikolášek and his secret boyfriend František (Juraj Loj) became targets of the state.
During this podcast episode, Holland reflects on Mikolášek, her passion for filmmaking, “The Wire,” and much more.
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