Santa Rosa: Odyssey in the Rhythm of Mariachi

In 1943 a group of 1434 Polish refugees from the Soviet Russia, including a few hundred orphans, arrived in an abandoned ranch of Santa Rosa at the invitation of the Mexican President. Santa Rosa, near Leon, Mexico became their home for the few years to come. Earlier in December 1942, Prime Minister of Polish Government in Exile – General Władysław Sikorski arrived in Mexico to sign an agreement with President of Mexico Avila Camacho to set up such a camp. Mexico was the only country outside the British Commonwealth, which offered assistance in solving the humanitarian crisis of thousands of Polish civilians displaced in temporary camps in Iran. Read more below.

In 1943 a group of 1434 Polish refugees from the Soviet Russia, including a few hundred orphans, arrived in an abandoned ranch of Santa Rosa at the invitation of the Mexican President. Santa Rosa, near Leon, Mexico became their home for the few years to come. Earlier in December 1942, Prime Minister of Polish Government in Exile – General Władysław Sikorski arrived in Mexico to sign an agreement with President of Mexico Avila Camacho to set up such a camp. Mexico was the only country outside the British Commonwealth, which offered assistance in solving the humanitarian crisis of thousands of Polish civilians displaced in temporary camps in Iran.

The exile from deep Russia to Mexico led the first group of Polish refugees through Los Angeles, where their ship docked on June 25th, 1943. To their surprise, the Americans locked them up in an internment center for the Japanese immigrants, who were perceived as enemies of the state.

Screenplay:
Sławomir Grünberg & Piotr Piwowarczyk

Director/Cinematography:
Sławomir Grünberg

Editor:
Małgorzata Łukomska

Producer – Mexico:
Piotr Piwowarczyk

Assistant Producer:
Manuel Zurita Hernandez

Producer – USA:
Sławomir Grünberg

Asistant Director:
Katka Reszke

Executive Producer:
RAGUSA FILM Lucyna Kowalska

Music:
Music used in the film was performed by MARIACHI de CHICAGO

FEATURING

In Szczecin:
Joanna Matias & Bogdan Matias Wierciński

In Chicago:
Tadeusz Pieczko, Czesław Sawko, Stanisława Sawko, Teresa Sokołowska & Stella Synowiec

In Mexico:
Gloria Careño, Anna Niewiadomska, Daniel Carlos Santos de Burgoa, Wojtek Stebelski, Celia Zak de Zuckerman, Anna Żarnecka, Aleksandra Grzybowicz, Walentyna Grycuk & Franciszka Pater

The film was made possible with the financial support of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

© Copyright: Log TV, Fundacja NON-FICTION

SCREENINGS

• Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY, March 19, 2014

• 20 Ann Arbor Polish Film Festival

• Ann Arbor, MI, November 9, 2013

• London, UK

• Jagielonian University Research Center, November 1, 2013

• Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK November 31, 2013

• Kino Kultura, Warsaw, October 30, 2013 The 14th Annual Polish Film Festival

• Los Angeles, October 16, 2013

• Pilsudski Institute of America, New York City, October 1, 2013

• Oaxaca Film Festival, Mexico, September 23, 2013

• Chicago Taste of Polonia 2013, Chicago, August 31- September 1, 2013

• Copernicus Center, July 20, 2013, Leon, Mexico

• Teatro Maria Grever, June 29, 2013

• Teatr Pleciuga, Szczecin, Poland, June 20, 2013

PUBLICITY PHOTOS

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