Język Polski
English
„Nie ma silnych, by to zlikwidować”. Służba Bezpieczeństwa wobec wideorewolucji
Przegląd Archiwalny Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej, No. 9 (2016), pages: 185–222
Publication date: 2023-04-05
PDF (Język Polski)
Abstract
In the second half of the 1980s, there were nearly one million VHS video recorders owned by Polish households; the technology turned out to be a significant break in the media monopoly of the state. However, the Security Service was not willing to accept that the Poles could watch whatever they wished. Its officers spared multiple efforts and resources in order to curb the “video revolution”. Repression was experienced by those who used to watch films which had not been admitted by censorship to distribution in Poland, owners of video rental shops, organizers of public shows, “pirate” distributors, as well as independent film makers for which the VHS technology was the only chance to approach recipients with their works. The “Security Force” was equally determined to prevent the Poles from accessing Western, purely light entertainment films (“Rambo”), political films (“Interview” by Ryszard Bugajski), as well as records of the satirical works by Jacek Fedorowicz. However, the effect of these attempts was the same – once confronted by the mass enthusiasm of the citizens for video films in the late People’s Republic of Poland, the Security Service turned out to be helpless.
