Curses, water magic, and (in)ability to change time in Jan Jakub Kolski’s “Johnnie Waterman”

Abstract

The text raises the issue of the presence of the magical sphere in the human experience. Johnnie Waterman, the protagonist of a short story and a film by Jan Jakub Kolski, experiences a mysterious force that begins to govern his life. This secret power is related to water, through which the hero begins to heal, and in short order becomes a holy man of sorts. Using this character as and example, the author poses a question about the meaning of human fate and the moral aspects of human existence. He also shows human life as dependent on mythical and symbolic meanings that in fact create reality. Johnnie Waterman, who is finally undone by his own pride, wants to turn back time, because he believes that this magical “band-aid” will repair the harm he had caused. However, it is only his understanding of who he is and what he was doing that brings the desired change and makes the hero start living together with his family. The curse that befell Jańcio on the one hand unleashed evil, on the other — it became a chance for the hero to find the truth about himself and the surrounding world.