Peking 2008

Just turn off one of the major streets in Katowice to find yourself in another world: in the "district of wonders" called "Peking". Old, rotten industrial blocks accommodate people sinking in addictions and despair. Most of them are out of jobs and live on small benefits received from the social care centre. They call themselves the "condemned ones", sent here for their overdue rent debts. Poverty is shared here by the Silesians and the Gipsies.Last spring Peking was all abuzz; the film crew appeared to shot some scenes for the feature film "Sleepiness" directed by Magdalena Piekorz, a young Polish film-maker. First from the windows, then in front of their doors, the anxious inhabitants watched the crew reorganising the gear and filming the doubles.
The film by Dagmara Drzazga is the record of a year long observation of the people living in Polish "Peking" - the story of their joys and daily problems.