Ewa the last lesson

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Ewa the last lesson

Ewa the last lesson

original title:

Ewa the last lesson

cast:

Ewa Benesz

production:

Ginko Film, Plesnar & Krauss Films, in association with La Bandita, Takaità Film

country:

Italy / Poland

year:

2025

film run:

67'

format:

colour

status:

Ready (03/06/2025)

After sixty years of theatrical and performative research, Ewa Benesz decides to leave Italy and return to Lublin, the city she fled in the 1980s during Polish martial law. The advancement of age forces her to discontinue her workshops, which involve people from all over the world. Ewa Benesz must say goodbye to her students, some of whom have maintained a relationship with her that has lasted for decades.
Ewa's theatrical practice and research draw from a tradition and methodology that can only be transmitted personally, so there is a strong risk that her knowledge will be lost forever. In her return to Poland, Ewa confronts the silent weight of a life spent away from home, in a journey that is simultaneously an ending and a return to her origins.

Director's notes

For over 15 years, we've been privileged to know Ewa Benesz, actively engaging in numerous laboratories under her guidance. Our connection has transformed into a profound, dialectical relationship, crucial for portraying her multifaceted persona in this documentary. The narrative intricately weaves trust threads developed over years of close collaboration with Ewa. This observational documentary delves into the life of a person dedicated to the pursuit of truth and unwavering commitment to theatrical work.
Starting from the story of a single woman, the film unfolds a universe transcending time and space, drawing inspiration from ancient myths, Indian spirituality, African rhythms, shamanic understanding, and Gurdjeff's teachings. Ewa Benesz possesses a unique knowledge transmitted personally, with a palpable risk of its loss if she ceases her activities.