5 x WHY to Hubert Sulima

We query Hubert Sulima, the dramatist behind the production "I Love Chopin," on five topics that intrigue us. The premiere is set for Friday, May 17, at the Wytwórnia Filmów Fabularnych. 

Why Chopin?

Because he is a very important figure in this country, the foundation of our identity. Directly, Chopin came from "Jesus" - our show at the New Theatre in Warsaw. We did a scene there about a deaf-blind man (played by Bartosz Bielenia), who talks about Beethoven's last sonata. Then, I suggested we should someday create an abstract show about a composer. Jędrzej, who studied musicology, has a way with music history stories. He also loves Chopin, plays a lot of his music, and I physically detested this music, even though I knew it was brilliant. When Jędrzej suggested to do a performance about Chopin, I thought it would be interesting - to examine this figure and these strong emotions from two completely different perspectives.

Why a queer biography?

We are uncertain about Chopin's sexual orientation, we don't have the right to say, but his biography contains many homoerotic elements. It is also obvious that sexuality was understood and realized completely differently back then. However, Chopin was definitely queer, an outsider, an eccentric - both in terms of sexuality, relationships, lifestyle, and his creativity - there is no question about that, it directly follows from his biography. What is interesting in this matter is the deliberate silence on his sexuality or the sacred outrage at any mention of it. Chopin is an image largely self-created. A façade, a fairy tale that we want to believe in, where he sheltered, like in a coffin. He hid behind a persona, carefully concealing everything difficult, unwanted, not fitting the ideal. His real life was fundamentally unsuccessful, unhappy, only redeemed through music. Here, he is the patron of identity, desires, dreams, eccentricities that had to be hidden from the world in our culture. We affirm his difference, his oddity, and his darkness. For us, he is a queer icon, not a national one, and his art a place of paradoxes - concealment, suffering, but also great freedom.

Why break the stereotype about Chopin's work?

Because Chopin, his life, and his work are multilayered, complicated, full of paradoxes. A mature, fuller view allows us to understand him better. To accept not only what is convenient, correct, patriotic, but also his darkness, because his art largely arose from that darkness. Let Chopin finally be who he wants, not just a patriotic emblem on chocolates and vodka or a tune in Pendolino. Let him be free. And us as well.

Why pantomime?

Many issues around this biography are silenced, there are no words, a lack of knowledge. Pantomime speaks with the body about the desires of the body, which are regions that Chopin himself repressed, hid. Similarly, as we often do in our society. The body was also a source of torment for Chopin due to his numerous diseases, including mental ones. Pantomime and generally the theater of movement give the opportunity to explore these topics, to take a step towards a better relationship with the body, with oneself, to express something for which we have no words.

Why won't we see Chopin?

This will be his abstract portrait told through other characters and stories. Chopin is not there, but on stage, there is a lot of love for him and his work.

Interviewed by: Mariusz Turchan