Kargul and Pawlak Museum in Lubomierz

Almost everyone in Poland knows the comedy Sami swoi ("All Friends Here"), shot by Sylwester Chęciński in Lubomierz in 1967. It tells of the feud between two neighbours, Kargul and Pawlak, peasants resettled from the east to Lower Silesia after the war. Today one of the town's oldest houses holds a museum devoted to the film. Life-size figures of the two heroes stand at the door, and inside is a piece of the fence they fought over.

How the museum began

In 1992 the first issue of a local newspaper called "Sami Swoi" came out in Lubomierz, and its editors began collecting mementoes of the town's film past. On the residents' initiative and with the mayor's support, the museum was set up in the mid-1990s and opened on 13 July 1996. Since 1997 Lubomierz has hosted the National Comedy Film Festival.

The museum occupies the ground floor of the Linen Weavers' House, the guild's seat since the 16th century and one of the oldest buildings in town; its façade now has striking black-and-white decoration.

What to see

• A section of the famous fence – the symbol of the neighbours' quarrel.
• The rifle whose bolt "flies out" and the grenade kept "for the Sunday suit" – props from the set.
• The contract with the stand-in for Władysław Hańcza (who played Kargul), Józef Jakubowski.
• The first print of the film, screened at the 1967 premiere.
• Rooms with old household and farm objects that evoke the heroes' world.
• Film Alley outside: plaques for film people linked to productions shot in Lubomierz and a signpost to cities around the world, including Hollywood.

Interesting facts

Lubomierz has served as a set for other productions too: the third story of Kazimierz Kutz's Krzyż Walecznych (Cross of Valour), scenes of the TV series Tajemnica twierdzy szyfrów and the film Kocham kino. There is also a monument to Kargul and Pawlak in town. Many scenes of Sami swoi take place on the nearby market square, easy to recognise on screen.

Tripto tip

The museum is at ul. Wacława Kowalskiego 1 – named after the actor who played Pawlak – right by the market square. Allow 30–45 minutes. Check opening hours with the town office or culture centre before you go. It helps to watch the film first, or at least its best-known scenes. If you want to see Lubomierz in festival mood, check the dates of the next comedy festival. Afterwards, walk to the square and up to the Baroque Church of the Assumption on the hill.