The Light of Immortality

Poland2025documentary24'National Competition

‘By studying the history of light, we can study the history of mankind,’ says Janusz Chmielniak, Poland’s largest lamp collector, who has amassed over 1,500 exhibits from various eras. His collection includes a funeral lamp from the French Revolution, a lamp for burning cobwebs and one of the oldest lamps – enclosed in an oyster shell. This passion consumes not only time and money but also relationships, as there is less and less space for one’s family. The film, made in the spirit of great adventure cinema, is a fascinating journey through the history of darkness and light.