Waldemar Wilhelm

Director, teacher and movement specialist

Łódź Film School describes Waldemar Wilhelm as an Acting Department professor, dean and deputy dean, and a theatre director. He studied acting and directing and undertook postgraduate stage-movement studies in Moscow. He died on 11 March 2023¹.

Fencing for a story

Wilhelm prepared fights for The Deluge. In his interview with Mieczysław Kuźmicki he distinguished safely choreographed screen combat from competitive fencing². The film guide discusses rehearsals and how the duels were filmed.

Kmicic’s duel with Wołodyjowski communicates their different abilities. Movement must be readable for viewers and repeatable for performers.

Actor and choreographer

When comparing book and film, ask how the description of Wołodyjowski’s superiority becomes timing, distance and actors’ reactions. Daniel Olbrychski and Tadeusz Łomnicki portray the characters; movement preparation lets them tell the conflict physically.