‘Godspeed Los Polacos’ free showing at Casper College

By: Lisa S. Icenogle
Image for documentary film press release.

The documentary film “Godspeed Los Polacos” will be shown free to the public Friday, Feb. 4, beginning at 6 p.m. One of the film’s stars, Jacek Bogucki, who has lived in Casper for many years, will be on hand to answer questions.

In the late 1970s, several young Polish men, tired of living under Communist rule, decided to become the first to kayak the Colca in southern Peru, one of the world’s deepest river canyons. Polish cinematographer Jacek Bogucki and photographer Zbigniew Bzdak were asked to join the group and record the trip. According to a story in Adventure Journal written by Jeff Moag, “The raft … (allowed) Bogucki and Bzdak to accompany the kayakers everywhere with their equipment and reels of film. Both became competent river-runners, and Bogucki captured motion footage of whitewater rapids and deep Andean canyons, unlike anything the world had yet seen. Forty years later, it brings (Adam) Nawrot and (Sonia) Szczesna’s feature film to life.”

The story follows the young men’s two-year journey into the first descent of the world’s deepest canyon. In addition to the thrilling aspects of the trip, the film also tells the history of the time when Poland was fighting for its freedom from Communist Russia. “Their criticism of their communist homeland government led to their banishment from Poland for years,” said Erich Frankland, political science instructor.

“Godspeed Los Polacos” is hosted by the Casper College International Students Club and will be shown in the Wheeler Auditorium, Room 103, in the Wold Physical Science Center on the Casper College campus.

Media contact: Lisa S. Icenogle
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