Voice actors: 

Ilona Kuśmierska – Bolek,

Danuta Przesmycka – Lolek.

The series Bolek i Lolek w Europie [Benny and Lenny in Europe]* contains 5 episodes produced between 1983–1986:

01. Duch Zamku Lorda MacIntosha [The Ghost of the Lord MacIntosh's Castle],

02. W Królestwie Posejdona [In Poseidon's Kingdom],

03. W Hiszpanii [In Spain],

04. Pod Kraterem [Under the Crater],

05. Wyścig Renów [The Reindeers’ Race].

* Bolek and Lolek were known in English versions also as Bennie and Lennie, Jym and Jam or Tim and Tom.

At the beginning of each episode of the series, Bolek and Lolek study a wall map. This time they decide to travel to Greece. They fly in their own small plane and arrive in Athens, where they visit the Athenian Acropolis. They meet a strange man who somehow seems to be destroying the columns of the Parthenon, but he turns out to be doing the opposite as he works as a renovator. He explains to the boys which factors destroy the ruins the most, and recommends that they should visit the Greek islands. Having received such advice, they transform their plane into a boat and sail to one of the islands. There, they have to avoid an aggressive wild goat and are forced to hide in a cave. The voice of Pythia prophesises that they will make a great discovery and meet with the ruler of the island. While diving on a dolphin’s back, they discover ruins of an ancient temple and a statue of Poseidon on which are resting octopuses covering it with their bodies; the octopuses are friendly and swim away when the boys approach. One small octopus takes a picture of them standing by the statue. The boys depart from Greece in their plane and on the radio they hear an announcement about the discovery they made.

The short animation is part of the series Bolek i Lolek w Europie designed with an educational purpose of presenting to Polish children selected European countries in a nutshell, as a background to their favourite characters’ adventures. Because of the length and genre, the produced image was out of necessity simplified and stereotyped. For instance, the “typical” bouzouki music highlights the journey to Greece. A Mediterranean landscape and background are presented without details, letting the viewer focus on the main elements: in particular, on the characters and their adventures. Athens seen by the protagonists is presented as if there was only the Acropolis there, without the city around it; similarly, the island they travel to, is completely empty. with no sign of human dwellings, only an ancient temple can be seen in the distance. 

The Acropolis and the unidentified ruins on the island are not the only references to antiquity. During the trip, Lolek reads Greek Mythology and Bolek asks him to read it aloud to entertain him. When Lolek reads: "and then Apollo, the god of the Sun threw his golden spear and from a rock a spring sprang to serve the people on earth", the illustration of these words appears in a scene imagined by the characters. It shows the god as a naked, athletic, strong, bearded man with a swarthy complexion. He stands against the background of ruins of a white marble temple, holding a spear with a handle wrapped in cloth. His throw, emphasising his divine power, is impressive, as the spear flies far and pierces a rock. In front of the rock, an anonymous ancient Greek prays on his knees, bowing his head. The man has a beard, grey-hair, wears a green wreath, a white tunic with a meander ornament on its lower border, and brown sandals. The spring water begins to come down with such force that it knocks down the praying man. Apollo demonstrates not only his power but also his benevolence by answering people’s prayer and granting them the gift of abundant fresh water. The boys imagine the god’s sun chariot driving through the sky.

Another scene presents the character of Pythia, although she does not appear literally. In the cave they found to hide from the goat, the boys see a fireplace, a stool and a broken ancient vessel. Lolek quotes again: "and then all-knowing Pythia started a fire, and from smoke, sparks and sun ray she prophesised to people what awaits them in a year, 10 years or 100 years". In the same moment the smoke raises up, the fire bursts and the boys hear the voice of Pythia herself. She not only prophesises that they would make a discovery, but also knows their names. This element strengthens the image of the ancient oracle as an unusual figure, mysterious and gifted with the knowledge of the future.

The last Greek god presented in the animation is Poseidon. The boys discover an underwater temple with the statue of Poseidon inside. The god is an athletic man, strong and lean, wearing a loincloth and holding his attribute – the trident – in his raised right hand. When the octopus takes the photographs, the viewer can see close-ups of the protagonists and the statue (as if the photos were shown), the details are clearly visible: muscular thighs and arms, sculpted abdominal muscles and a serious look. 

Another possible allusion to the ancient myths is provided by the motif of riding on a dolphin’s back, known from myths about Arion, and Taras, the founder of Taranto. The dolphin leading the characters to the underwater temple represents an animal particularly associated with Poseidon and immortalised on the firmament for its kind help.

Kamusella, Tomasz, “Crocodile Skin, or the Fraternal Curtain”, The Antioch Review 4 (2012): 742–759 (accessed: July 2, 2021).

Menzel, Birgit and Ulrich Schmid, "Der Osten Im Westen: Importe Der Populärkultur”, Osteuropa 5 (2007): 3–21 (accessed: July 2, 2021).

Sitarski, Piotr, "Bolek i Lolek: od widowni dziecięcej do systemu rozrywkowego: rekonesans badawczy”, Kultura Popularna 3 (2018): 60–73, bazhum.muzhp.pl (accessed: July 2, 2021).

Sitkiewicz, Paweł, “Tylko dla dzieci: krótka historia filmów o Bolku i Lolku”, Panoptikum 10 (2011): 137–148, bazhum.muzhp.pl (accessed: July 2, 2021).

Production Team:

Director: Marian Cholerek,

Screenplay: Leszek Mech, Bronisław Zeman,

Dialogues: Marian Cholerek, Leszek Mech,

Projects of the characters : Tadeusz Depa, Stanisław Dülz, Alfred Ledwig, Leszek Lorek, Rufin Struzik,

Animation: Izabela Cholerek, Henryka Chrobak, Aleksandra Dybczak, Małgorzata Grabysa, Marek Kaczmar,

Music: Waldemar Kazanecki,

Sound: Otokar Balcy,

Montage: Alojzy Mol.