A Polish novelist Maria Rodziewiczowna wrote LATO LESNYCH LUDZI (Summer of Forest People) at the beginning of the 20th century. She dealt with the theme of people and their relation to nature, which was worrying even at that time. Years later, in 1984 this series was made. And, as it is always the case with many film adaptations, this one too takes lot of liberties with the original literary source. In a more convenient manner to its time, it tells the story of a boy from a town who is to spend the summer vacation in the forest with the people he seems to find rather weird at first. However, he soon changes his mind and his views completely. Life full of adventures, unexpected events, necessity to defend all that he comes to love and finds precious appear to be a great chance of self-making.
Even if you have not read the novel or you are not particularly fond of Polish films of the time (the 1980s was the time when films were far from technical awe), the 5 episode - series is a true gem of its time. I would refer to it as a moving picture resembling the beauty of nature on the screen. Not only is it nature as animals and plants, woods and lakes but nature of human as well. These moments are filled with gentle and catchy soundtrack by Jerzy Matuszkiewicz and a pure adventure of a boy discovering beauty around him. The locations leave a viewer stunned by the magificence of forests, lakes, animals, birds. Indeed, the series can boast some special images.
The story is also meaningful, in particular young Rafal Wieczynski portrays his character with genuine honesty and embodies a coming-of age story - the boy slowly becomes a young man in the most natural surroundings. Difficulties, challenges and hardship make him mature. He also finds a girl and falls in love with her. Her name is Justyna, he calls 'Stynka' in a cute way (played by young Dominika Mincer who, unfortunately, did not make any special career later but at least is not associated with any other role). This plot resembles that growth clearly. But mainly the story is meaningful due to the people that he meets and among whom he grows: what names they have: Antek Panther, Rosomak. The people amidst whom there isn't anything fake.
Although the leading role of the boy Coto is played by a rather newcomer at the time Rafal Wieczynski, there are many famous Polish actors in the supporting roles. Jerzy Binczycki known to many film fans from THE QUACK (1982) and NIGHTS AND DAYS (1974) gives a unique performance here. There is Wiktor Zborowski known for WITH FIRE AND SWORD (1999) and Artur Barcis. They help the boy grow and show him the importance of the forest's intact beauty endangered by man's action. This he must protect....this we all must protect. It is also a message conveyed to us in the 2020s. I particularly loved the scenes with his horse, how the boy cares for him, how he protects him in danger of other people, some irresponsible, some stupid, some wicked.
But, as I appreciate the film's appeal to modern audiences, it is very important to state one thing: these days we hear a lot about ecology, protection of nature and human as the true evil-doer. This aspect, in some cases even politized, seems to be something we got used to and do not take as seriously as we should. What we see here is something far more appealing, something that first makes us stunned, awed by the beauty that we all would like to protect. We learn to love woods and then we know what we all need to protect.
So when you decide to see the whole series, you need to be ready to grasp the moments of peace, to notice original innocence when man and nature cooperated, you need to be touched by the sight of innocent wilderness, horses running freely, birds making their autumn leaves, squirrels climbing trees. As I mentioned that in many reviews on similar movies, you need a childlike heart capable of hearing the forest's whisper, of praising the Lord for his creation and listening carefully to the ode that genuine hearts sing to nature.
