directed by Piotr Trzaskalski, drama, 100 min, eng subtitles
The film tells the story of two scrap pickers living in Łódź in the mid 90s: the eponymous hero Edi and his friend Jureczek. Edi spends his idle hours reading books found in the trash and, in spite of his difficult material situation, he has a very philosophical approach to life. His own life changes suddenly when two local mafiosi hire him to tutor their 17 years-old sister, the “princess”, who doesn’t care about school, being desperately in love with a man working with the ”brothers”. Edi feels sympathy for this forbidden love and once leaves the door opened. A couple of months later, when the brothers discover that the "princess” is pregnant, they swear a cruel revenge and the girl accuses Edi in order to protect her lover...
This first feature film by Piotr Trzaskalski is based on a Zen tale telling the story of the tragic love between a princess and a literate tramp.
Awards:
27th Cleveland International Film Festival 2003 (Grand Prix)
Berlin International Film Festival 2003 (FIPRESCI Award)
Gdynia Film Festival 2002 (Special Jury Award)