"head circumference" Włodzimierz Nowak
One of the most distinctive and important scenes from the film by Agnieszka Holland "Europa, Europa" is one in which the main character Sally, a Jewish boy, goes to the Hitler Youth and the German school is deemed to be racial and Aryan ideal because it has a "perfect" body proportions, including a textbook head circumference. Anatomy Lesson in the Nazi issue. This one small but incredibly important episode explains and exposes the absurdity of Hitler's assumptions about the purity of the breed. Assumptions based on false premises. More accurately the cultural norm, which determines the existence (more precisely millions of lives.) Like the Polish-German relations, full of prejudice and misunderstanding. Sprinkled with a "bad history." Where is the overriding factor in determining the relationships appear to be conflicts and wrongs, mutual distrust, particularly the tragedy of Nazism. Border so close, mentally, hundreds of miles distance. Distance, which tries to understand and describe in the book Vladimir Nowak "head circumference" .
Collection journalist reports Poznan is one of the few publications on the Polish market, which in a way so full of confusion trying to portray our western neighbors. Reports contained in the book "head circumference" relate the events of the Second World War until after the war as well as existing relationships. The author sets affects the most tragic and difficult episodes from the history of both nations. So we have the drama of Polish families separated by the precise and consistent actions of the Nazis, who take back the family of children (of course, only those considered to be Aryan, and categorized made it) and give them a new and better German parents ("head circumference). We have also, perhaps the most shocking lyrics, about a young soldier Werhmachtu, who took part in the Warsaw Uprising pacyfikowaniu ("My Warsaw frenzy"). But that justice may be done, on the other hand, there is also an example of "good German" - Manfred, who joined the Army soldiers ("The Good Soldier Manfred") or "naive Germans," who fell in love with the beautiful writing down those shelves without hesitation, firmly sticking to them his entire estate. What is important in this publication does not divide the world into black and white. There are many shades of gray. Poles, szmuglujący across borders cigarettes and alcohol, but also Afghans, Pakistanis, Indians ... (!). A kind of microcosm of the frontier.
Texts closing publications include documentary about the Polish students studying law at the University Viadrina and the Opel factory in Bochum and Gliwice. The first, wildly optimistic, talking about improving relations, establishing a meaningful, scientific cooperation. Second pessimistic, describing the mutual resentment and ruthless competition. Find a more ambivalent relationship.
title "head circumference" is a symbol of what the culture of the worst - a stereotype. With which both parties have to fight, at least make an attempt. In Otherwise, we - Poles in the eyes of the Germans will always remain thieves cwaniakami, gateway to the poor East. " However, in our opinion, Germany will associate only with Nazism and naiwniactwem. Alibabki long, long ago sang: "It's good to have a neighbor." And surely it's good!
