Mister Blot's Academy

Krzysztof Gradowski's 1984 Polish film adapts Jan Brzechwa's classic children's book. Adaś Niezgódka is transported by magic into the fairy-tale land of Mr Blot, who is both teacher and magician and whose lessons are never dull, particularly when the subject is blotology. The film builds a world where a child's logic sits above an adult's. Piotr Fronczewski's Mr Blot lodged in Polish popular culture and the songs were known across generations. The set and costume design carry a handmade richness despite the limited budget. That it was made in socialist Poland explains the film's sense of escape. The story is episodic and has no interest in arriving anywhere. Who it's for: viewers interested in Eastern European children's cinema and fantastical fairy-tale adaptations. Who it's not for: anyone wanting a tight plot, or who will miss references without knowing the book and its cultural context.