The independent documentary by Ryszard Kruk, which won numerous awards both in Poland and abroad, is a beautiful and nostalgic story about the unavoidable passing, loneliness, and great commitment to one’s work. Ryszard Kruk made this documentary film in 2008 and it featured excellent cinematography and music.
During the making of the film, Henryk Janicki was 77 years old, and was celebrating his 50th anniversary as a taxi driver. He is a cult figure to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He would always be neatly dressed, have impeccable manners, and crack jokes. He was adored by the people of Toruń, with his hair touched with grey, and the impeccably clean Fiat 125P he used to drive. His car had no dangling key rings, there was no loud music inside, and passengers would never have to suffer any nervousness or reckless driving on his part.
Many locations in Toruń were used in the film, including – the New-Town Market Square, the Leaning Tower of Toruń, the taxi rank at the Wilam Horzyca Theatre, the Józef Piłsudski Bridge, Bydgoskie Przedmieście (Bydgoskie Suburbs – buildings with clapboards), the Rubinkowo Housing Estate, and Przedmieście Chełmińskie (the Chełmińskie Suburbs).
Taksówkarz / Taxi Driver
Poland 2008, 24′
Directed by: Ryszard Kruk
Cinematography: Ryszard Kruk, Barbara Klein
Produced by: Kruk Multimedia
The Tourfilm Brazil Festival; Festiwal UFFoA (the Festival of Amateur Films) in Ustka; the KULT OFF KINO Festival in TVP Kultura – the Audience Award; the Opolskie Lamy Film Festival; the Offeliada Festival in Gniezno; the HAPPY END Festival in Rzeszów; and others.
Important people