On the Silver Globe [screening + Q&A]

Join us for a special screening of Andrzej Żuławski’s magnum opus On the Silver Globe (1988) presented by its cinematographer, distinguished director of photography and longtime Żuławski collaborator Andrzej Jaroszewicz. A rare opportunity to experience one of Polish cinema’s most ambitious and visually striking works—an epic science fiction masterpiece with a fascinating production history.

On the Silver Globe / dir. Andrzej Żuławski / 1988 / sci-fi, fantasy, drama / Poland / Polish with English subtitles / 166 minutes

Originally filmed in the late 1970s, On the Silver Globe faced severe censorship under Poland’s communist regime, which halted production just as the film was nearing completion. A decade later, Żuławski managed to assemble the surviving footage, recreate scenes with new actors, and incorporate documentary material, culminating in the film’s 1988 release.

Adapted from the Lunar Trilogy by Żuławski's grand-uncle, Jerzy Żuławski, On the Silver Globe tells the surreal and haunting story of a group of astronauts sent to the moon to establish a new civilization. However, their mission unravels as they die one by one, leaving their children to create a new society steeped in myth and primitive beliefs. The film’s visionary scope is complemented by an array of bizarre alien species, including telepathic humanoid birds and amphibious mud creatures, creating a truly otherworldly experience. With its complex narrative and striking imagery, On the Silver Globe invites comparison to the surrealism of David Lynch’s Dune, presenting a chaotic yet mesmerizing journey into the unknown.

Filmed in stunning locations such as the Gobi Desert, Crimea, and the Baltic coast, On the Silver Globe is one of the most expensive and ambitious productions in Polish cinema. Its troubled production, marred by political intervention and censorship, has become a tragic chapter in the history of both Polish cinema and the wider art world. Despite these challenges, the film premiered at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim. This screening offers an opportunity to engage with a pioneering work of science fiction and to reflect on the resilience of Żuławski’s vision—an unfinished masterpiece that might have rivaled other iconic space epics had history taken a different course.

Organized by Czech Center New York in collaboration with Polish Cultural Institute New York

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