"... an important contribution to film studies not only in Poland, but in Eastern and Central Europe in general. The authors demonstrate that women are both revered and despised in Polish culture, a phenomenon Mazierska and Ostrowska attribute to the persistence of overt patriarchy in both social relations and culture. This system of thought, they aver, has 'shaped and policed the lives of Polish women' for generations." Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television"...well researched and elegantly written. It should be of great interest to scholars interested in both Polish cinema criticism and feminist studies." Slavic Review"This important book utilizes temporary feminist discourse on women's cinema with debates specific for the Polish cinematic, cultural, and socio-political context...Carefully researched and lucidly written, the book offers a new perspective on Polish cinema and will no doubt be the primary source for any scholar interested in gender issues in the Polish context." Marek Haltof in Canadian Slavonic Papers"Combining freshness of focus with close, penetrating analysis, Women in Polish Cinema is a contribution to East European film studies at once innovative and exemplary." KinemaPolish film has long enjoyed an outstanding reputation but its best known protagonists tend to be male. This book points to the important role of women as key characters in Polish films, such as the enduring female figure in Polish cult...