Juliusz Machulski arrives in Estepona to present Vinci 2
The legendary Polish filmmaker takes part in the Polish Culture series with a talk about his more than 20 years of connection to the Costa del Sol.
International director Juliusz Machulski, one of the most prominent figures in Polish cinema, visited Estepona as part of the municipality’s Polish Culture cycle. The event, held at the Multi-purpose Hall of the Mirador del Carmen Cultural Center, featured the participation of Poland’s ambassador to Spain, Monika Krzepkowska; the Deputy Mayor of Estepona Town Council, Begoña Ortiz; and Aleksandra Boch, Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Tourism.
During the talk, Machulski shared with the audience his more than two-decade relationship with Estepona, anecdotes from his childhood, and the key moments of his film career. The event was presented by José María Guerrero Montes, Coordinator of the Mirador del Carmen Sociocultural Center, and María Ruiz López, lawyer and actress in the film Vinci 2, and brought together institutional representatives and members of the local community.
A love story with Estepona
“You don’t know how lucky you are to live here, in one of the most beautiful countries in the world,” Machulski told the audience. The director revealed that he first discovered Estepona 25 years ago and has witnessed its transformation: “Estepona is the heart of the coast. When I first came here, it has changed so much.”
The filmmaker’s connection to Spain goes beyond tourism: “I have always loved Spain, its culture, and I really like the Spanish language. Whenever I am in Spain, I feel a little bit Spanish myself. Truly, in a past life, I was in Spain,” he shared with emotion.
A cinematic legacy inspired by Spain
Ambassador Krzepkowska highlighted Machulski’s significance in Polish culture: “He is a living legend, a master of Polish cinema. He is one of the Polish icons in film, known by every generation.”
The director has integrated Spain into his cinematic work, especially in his film “Volta,” which touches on aspects of Polish history during the Spanish Civil War. “It’s a comedy, but with historical moments. I am very interested in Spanish history,” Machulski explained, demonstrating his knowledge of episodes like the Battle of the Ebro.
From actor’s son to film master
The filmmaker recounted the origin of his vocation for cinema: his first movie memory was his father’s film “The Last Day of Summer,” when he was just three years old. “My father dies in the film. After seeing it, that was the reason I decided to become a film director,” he remembered emotionally.
His professional debut came at age 22 with “Vabank,” a film in which his father played the main character—a safecracker. “The success was twofold because it completely changed my father’s life, who had previously played less interesting roles,” he explained.
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Inspiration and creative evolution
Machulski revealed that his cinematic role model was Stanley Kubrick: “I wanted to be like him, a film genius, and make movies in every genre.” This ambition led him to explore everything from police films to science fiction, especially during the communist era in Poland, when he chose historical or fantasy subjects to avoid contemporary censorship.
“I only had one real problem with censorship, with a line in a film about the Third World War,” he recalled. His ingenuity enabled him to create works with multiple layers: “I wanted to make escapes, films that functioned as entertainment but also said more.”
Vinci returns 20 years later
As part of the cultural program, tomorrow “Vinci 2” will be screened, with the director and some cast members in attendance, including actress Kamila Baar. What makes this sequel special is that it reunites the same actors two decades later, repeating scenes in the exact locations.
“It’s very moving to see the first part, and now the second. They are the same actors, but now with magnificent careers behind them,” the ambassador highlighted. The screening will allow Estepona’s public to enjoy this unique cinematic proposal that reflects the passage of time both on and off screen.
The Polish Culture cycle continues in Estepona with more activities scheduled. Machulski’s visit strengthens cultural ties between Poland and the Costa del Sol—a relationship the director himself has cultivated for more than two decades.