New York is fascinating

You’re a lecturer at the Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź, a film critic, columnist, essayist and author of many books. One of them is entitled „Rozmyślania przy makijażu. Życie codzienne Nowego Jorku"(Reflections on make up. Everyday Life of New York). You write for Nowy Dziennik (The New Daily - Polish Daily News). New York, as you said, fascinates you, why?

Maria Kornatowska: New York is a fascinating city. Multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, seething with energy and dynamism. It is bustling late into the night; something always happens in it, something is constantly changing. A walk around Manhattan is a journey through different worlds. It can hold you in suspense, in curiosity. New York opens your awareness; it teaches you a different perspective on the people and the world. I can wander about New York for hours. You don’t need to go to the cinema or theater; a street is a place where all the real spectacles take place. You see interesting people and interesting faces. I like New York’s architecture; it is a tasteful blend of 21st century architecture alongside the historical one.  Narrow, downtown streets and decorative facades of old houses. I love Central Park and its atmosphere. Every corner has its own specific character. Central Park is like a giant stage on which people of all walks of life play different pieces simultaneously.

Have you noticed any similarities between Łódź and NYC? And between people from Łódź and New Yorkers?

Maria Kornatowska: Of course there are some similarities. Mainly in the architecture of some districts. New York and Łódź were formed at about the same time. They were built by more or less the same people, mostly Polish and German Jews. Łódź was an important textile industry centre, New York was the core of the clothing industry. Its traditions are still strong. Only the Chinese are now working over there. But its traditions are still strong. In the district, which today bears the name of the Fashion District, close to the Nowy Dziennik office, there is a moving monument of a Jewish tailor, bent over a Singer sewing machine. These similarities are of historical nature. They refer to the past.

It would be difficult to discern the similarities between people from Łódź and New York though. Łódź is primarily mono-ethnic, and New York - quite the opposite. Łódź inhabitants, sorry to say, are rather gloomy, not very polite and not very friendly. New Yorkers often use the word "sorry", they smile at each other on the street and on the bus. I really like New York buses. There is a kind of inner life in them. People willingly get into conversations, they discuss, make some very short-term, friendly relations. Here, not only in Lodz, you can feel that people are looking with the greatest mistrust and aversion upon each other.

What would you transfer from New York City to Łódź, since you know it both inside and out? When you are in Lodz, what do you miss the most? And what about New York?

Maria Kornatowska: I would transfer this specific kindness and hospitable atmosphere that makes your life more enjoyable. All those spontaneous actions, such as flower planting on the street where you live, caring for your home, small gardens between the houses where you put some small tables and people go and meet there in the evenings, play cards, talk over coffee. I’d love to see people on the streets not only during the shopping hours but I wish all the spots would stay open late at night and eating out would become a frequent habit. I want to feel safe walking around the streets, even late at night and to see the police keeping the streets out of danger, just the same as in New York. And I wish it would be easier for elderly and disabled people to use the public transport, so that they could feel safe and secure. New York is a city of young people and the city of youth, but also older people are living there their life to the fullest. Neatly dressed, good-looking, classy. In the afternoons they go to the theater, to the opera or to eat lunch. They have their favorite places, cinemas with special repertoires, facilities in museums.

When I’m back in Łódź I miss my New Yorkers, the atmosphere of the city, and some places to which I am particularly attached to, such as the Upper West Side, my favorite New York neighborhood. And in New York I miss all the people that I left in Łódź.

What about the cinematographic aspect of Łódź? As a member of this film society how do you feel about it? Can we really talk about Łódź in terms of a city of film?

Maria Kornatowska: It is not easy to answer this question. It is quite complicated. In fact, they made it disappear for some time, but it seems that it is slowly coming back to life. Film School still continues its existence and it is developing, there is a very active Museum of Cinematography, they make movies in Łódź, as for example recently made Mariusz Grzegorzek’s “Jestem twój” (I am yours) or Paweł Borowski’s “Zero” (Zero), new Se-Ma-For has just celebrated ten years of existence and has won major international successes. Foreign films and co-productions are also made in Łódź. Soon, a new film directed by Agnieszka Holland, will be shot in Łódź. There are some several major film festivals, and there is Camerimage. So we can say that Łódź wants to be associated with films once again and it is doing a clear progress.

Interview: Maja Ruszkowska-Mazerant