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SUMMARY:« On the Silver Globe » : Heritage and Contemporary Visions of Polish Science Fiction
UID:https://instytutpolski.pl/brussels/en/2026/04/08/on-the-silver-globe-heritage-and-contemporary-visions-of-polish-science-fiction/
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DTSTAMP:20260418T130000
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DESCRIPTION:This event offers a feast for fans of cult and visionary science fiction
works—at the crossing of cinema and comics. The meeting of these two
artistic universes revolves around a foundational text of Polish SF: On
the Silver Globe by Jerzy Żuławski (1874–1915), a novel written nearly
120 years ago that continues to inspire contemporary creators.
Film screening : On the Silver Globe / Na srebrnym Globie, dir. Andrzej
Żuławski, 1987
The first part of the event features a screening of Andrzej Żuławski's
cult film—a legendary work marked by censorship and artistic resistance.
 
A free adaptation of the book by the director's great-uncle, the film
follows an expedition of astronauts who settle on a foreign planet to found
a new civilization. Over time, social structures, beliefs, and rituals
emerge, until the arrival of a mysterious messiah disrupts this fragile
balance.
Considered by Taste of Cinema one of the best non-Hollywood science
fiction films of all time, On the Silver Globe remains one of the most
singular and radical projects in film history. Shot between 1976 and 1977,
interrupted by authorities, and completed only ten years later, it became a
symbol of artistic freedom against political constraints. Both an epic
fresco and an intimate reflection, the film questions human nature—the
need to believe, the mechanisms of power, and the tension between
individual and collective. Filmed notably in the Wieliczka salt mine, the
Łeba dunes, and the Gobi Desert without special effects, it impresses with
the strength of its visual universe. Its visionary scenography and
intensity make it an extraordinary cinematic experience.
Excerpt from a review: Awe is perhaps the word that best describes this
monumental work—through its ambition, the richness of its themes, the
beauty of its costumes and landscapes, as well as the power of an artistic
vision deployed despite numerous constraints, including political
ones. https://blog.revueversus.com/2025/07/03/sur-le-globe-dargent-dandrzej-zulawski-incontournable/
Andrzej Żuławski (1940–2016) was a director, screenwriter, and writer
from an artistic family. He studied philosophy at the Sorbonne and
filmmaking at IDHEC in Paris. Assistant to Andrzej Wajda, he debuted
with The Third Part of the Night (1971). After the ban on The
Devil (1972) and the interruption of On the Silver Globe, he settled in
France, where he made films such as The Important Thing Is to
Love, Possession, and The Public Woman. His work is characterized by
visionary intensity and apocalyptic poetics.
This exceptional science-fiction production will be complemented by an
introduction  by Pierre Van Cutsem, a Belgian-Polish translator of Polish
literature, PhD candidate at the University of Silesia, and specialist in
Polish and Central European fantasy literature. He is the author of
translations from Polish to French of Stefan Grabiński's short story
anthology The Mistress of Szamota and Other Fantastic Stories (Le Visage
Vert, 2025), as well as of the comic Lunatycy (Les lunatiques, Éditions
Blueman, 2025) by Adam Fyda and Marek Ospalski, inspired by Jerzy
Żuławski's novel On the Silver Globe.
Comic book adaptation: Les lunatiques by Adam Fyda and Marek Ospalski
The second part of the event focuses on a contemporary adaptation of Jerzy
Żuławski's work through the medium of comics, featuring an ambitious
adaptation of On the Silver Globe.
Les lunatiquesÉditions Blueman, 2023Artwork: Adam FydaScript: Adam Fyda,
Marek OspalskiTranslation from Polish: Pierre Van Cutsem
The action of Les lunatiques takes place in 1913. A group of pioneers
heads to the far side of the Moon in search of an atmosphere and life
forms. Very quickly, the expedition becomes a one-way journey: the break
with Earth and isolation lead to a progressive and disturbing
transformation of the protagonists. The work retains the philosophical
depth of the original while offering an immersive visual experience.
Excerpt from a review: Lunatycy  is a unique comic, executed with a great
mastery. The authors breathe new life into this century-old story while
preserving its timeless scope. A captivating story, visually striking and
intellectually stimulating.
https://www.gloskultury.pl/kosmiczna-paranoja-adam-fyda-marek-ospalski-lunatycy/
Very beautiful images with a slightly retro charm, convincing characters,
drama, and subtle echoes of Hergé's aesthetic—an work that will appeal
to both science fiction fans and new
readers. https://www.ligneclaire.info/les-lunatiques-une-face-cachee-mysterieuse-701034.html
Adam Fyda is a Polish comic book artist, painter, illustrator, and graphic
designer, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław, where he
studied painting. He works as an independent visual creator, combining
artistic practice with experience gained in communication and design
agencies. Fascinated by science fiction, fantasy, and classic horror, he is
notably known for his comics with science fiction and horror accents.
 
Event Schedule
Saturday, April 18Film screening: On the Silver GlobeCinéma Palace1
PMTickets
Book signing with Adam Fyda and Pierre Van CutsemLibrairie Brüsel Anspach3
PM to 6 PMReservation 
During their visit to Brussels, Pierre Van Cutsem and Adam Fyda will also
meet with the students of the Polish Studies  department at the
Université Libre de Bruxelles to share their knowledge of the classic
Polish science fiction and practice of literary translation.  
                     
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