The short story “The Mask” by Stanisław Lem became the subject of an experimental short by actress-director Hanka Brulińska.

“The Mask” is a timeless story that touches upon issues of human nature, philosophy, love and artificial intelligence.
The 2021 is celebrated in Poland as the Stanisław Lem’s Year, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of this world renown science fiction writer, philosopher, futurologist and essayist.

Hanka Brulińska decided to pay tribute to this visionary creator through her original project based on a short story by Stanisław Lem. The film has been created as part of the “Kultura w Sieci” program of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Poland.

“The Mask” tells the story of a beautiful woman who turns out to be a mechanical monster hidden in a female shell, exploring genre of the horror story set in the world of science fiction.

Interestingly, this is the second adaptation of Lem’s short story. In 2010, “The Mask” got its animated version, as The Se-ma-for film studio has released a 23-minute film directed by the American duo of the Quay Brothers, with music by Krzysztof Penderecki. It was co produced by Adam Mickiewicz Institute and us – Polish Cultural Institute in London!