In Desert and Wilderness (film)

Adapted from a popular young adult novel, "In Desert and Wilderness" by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz written in 1912, "Desert and Wilderness" ("W pustyni i w puszczy") is the story of two kids, Staś Tarkowski and Nel Rawlison, kidnapped by the rebels during Mahdi's rebellion in Sudan. It was filmed twice, in 1973 and in 2001.

Infobox Film
name = In Desert and Wilderness


image_size =
caption = Staś and Nel
director = Władysław Ślesicki
producer = "Studio Filmowe
(d. Zespół Filmowy) Iluzjon"
writer = Władysław Ślesicki, Henryk Sienkiewicz (novel}
narrator =
starring =
music = Andrzej Korzyński
cinematography = Bogusław Lambach
editing =
distributor =
released = 1973
runtime = 193 min.
country = flagicon|Poland Poland
language = Polish
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.filmpolski.pl/fp/index.php/12138
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0070894

First movie version

The first movie version was directed by Władysław Ślesicki. It lasts about 3 hours, and is composed of 2 parts which were shown separately in theaters. It was released in 1973, but work on it started in 1971. The movie was filmed in Egypt, Sudan and Bulgaria, with an international cast and crew.

At the same time, a four part miniseries was made. It is very much alike the movie, but has some additional scenes and the ones that can be seen in the movie look and sound slightly different.

Starring:
* Monika Rosca .... Nel Rawlison
* Tomasz Mędrzak .... Staś Tarkowski
* Emos Bango .... Kali
* Malia Mekki .... Mea
* Edmund Fetting .... George Rawlison "(Nel's father)"
* Stanisław Jasiukiewicz .... Władysław Tarkowski "(Staś's father)"
* Zygmunt Hobot .... Kaliopuli
* Zygmunt Maciejewski .... Linde
* Ahmad Hegazi .... Gebhr
* Ahmed Marei .... Chamis
* Ibrahim Shemi .... Idrys
* Abdel Menam Abu El Fatouh .... Mahdi
* Hosna Suleyman .... Dinah
* Stefania Mędrzak .... Madame Olivier
* Fatma Helal .... Fatma
* Jerzy Kamas .... Tarkowski's voice "(uncredited)"
* Abbas Fares, Mohamed Hamdi, Bogumił Simeonow, Gawrił Gawriłow and others.

Second movie version

Infobox Film
name = In Desert and Wilderness


image_size =
caption = Nel and Staś
director = Gavin Hood
producer = Waldemar Dziki, Włodzimierz Otulak
writer = Gavin Hood, Henryk Sienkiewicz (novel)
narrator =
starring =
music = Krzesimir Dębski
cinematography = Jacek Januszyk
editing =
distributor =
released = 2001
runtime = 111 min.
country = flagicon|Poland Poland
language = Polish
budget = 4.2 mln. $
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.filmpolski.pl/fp/index.php/128285
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0260522The 2001 version was directed by Gavin Hood and wrapped up in only about three months. It was filmed in South Africa, Tunisia and Namibia. The original director fell ill at the very beginning of filming and his role was taken by Hood.

The movie was said to be more modern, notably in its depiction of intercultural relationships. Although it's not that close to the book, it still enjoyed a considerable success.

A miniseries were made at the same time this time as well.

Starring:
* Karolina Sawka .... Nel Rawlison
* Adam Fidusiewicz .... Staś Tarkowski
* Artur Żmijewski .... Władysław Tarkowski (Staś's father)
* Andrzej Strzelecki .... George Rawlinson (Nel's father)
* Mzwandile Ngubeni .... Kali
* Lungile Shongwe .... Mea
* Konrad Imiela .... Chamis
* Lotfi Dziri .... Gebhr
* Ahmed Hafiane .... Idrys
* Krzysztof Kowalewski .... Kalioupoli
* Krzysztof Kolberger .... Linde
* Agnieszka Pilaszewska .... Madame Olivier
and others.

External links

*imdb title|id=0070894|title=W pustyni i w puszczy (1973)
*imdb title|id=0398601|title=W pustyni i w puszczy (1974)
*imdb title|id=0260522|title=W pustyni i w puszczy (2001)
*imdb title|id=0824248|title=W pustyni i w puszczy (2002)