The idea for Aleksandra Jamiołkowska to create a visual representation of Diatłowicki’s story came from Małgorzata Kozera-Topińska. The documentalist cooperated with the POLIN Museum in 2016 on the project on the oral history records: she was one of those responsible for recording the reports. She is also the author of independent short movies.
Kozera also edited previous materials recorded by other operators and researchers. The interview with Jerzy Diatłowicki about the wartime experience of his family deported by the NKVD to Kazakhstan in 1940, was one of such recordings (see note "Pamiątki rodziny Diatłowickich" [Family Heirloom of the Diatłowickis]). While working on the material, Małgorzata Kozera felt she needed to edit in some intercuts, since the recording was a tale shot by a single camera and the rough cuts between the takes on such material could be off-putting for the viewer (movie "jumps"). Furthermore, the final product was quite long (9 minutes). For these reasons it needed some short diversions which would attract the viewers attention and keep them interested.
The director invited Aleksandra Jamiołowska to collaborate on the project, finding Aleksandra’s style – which employed a child-like perspective and sensitivity – corresponding to the nature of Jerzy Darłowicki’s memories.
Works that resulted from this collaboration have a peculiar, subtle character evoked by the modest usage of compositional elements, a homogeneous technique (pencil) and the dominant outline, often empty or filled just with black and grey. The artist usually blends her graphite. She does not draw detailed facial features or elements of the environment – this effect could be described as representing the fading of memory, but also as very imaginative. Illustrations for the specific stories gain the additional sense of both intimacy and universality, thanks to their frugality. On the one hand the drawings goad the viewers to bring back their own memories; on the other, they trigger associations with archetypes (e.g. the train, the city, a woman with luggage). Link to the film in its final version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgxK-5rEiRU&t=9s.