Tag: poland

What is this boxing all about? “Boxer” (“Bokser”, 2024)

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directed by Mitja Okorn
© 2024 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s film was shot in my country, with the actors I know very well from other productions, and I do use Netflix, but somehow I totally didn’t see it anywhere. As if it was top secret. The funny part is that I’ve met a guy who worked in the filmmaking crew of “Boxer” and he’s recommended me to see it (if you’re reading this, greetings for you!). At first I didn’t feel much encouraged because biopics about sportspeople are often very similar and absolutely not entertaining to me. Then I checked the cast and I simply had to see it, even if that meant watching half-naked sweaty men fighting with each other. The story is fictional, but I can tell that the director did his homework about the reality of living in Poland after WWII. I’m not that old, but I know about those times from my family, and what you can see in “Boxer” is pretty accurate. Maybe except some costumes or make-up… but let’s skip to the plot. We meet a young man named Jędrzej (Eryk Kulm), whose father was a boxing star, so everyone expects him to follow the same path. However, building a career back then in Poland wasn’t that easy or financially appealing, so Jędrzej decides to emigrate together with his wife Kasia (Adrianna Chlebicka). Unfortunately, grass isn’t always greener on the other side, so the boxer has to decide what price he’ll pay for becoming a champion. What I obviously enjoyed in the film was the cast, especially the male part, because they are simply horribly talented actors, so no surprise. But I also appreciated how dynamic the pace was, so it wasn’t boring at any point. Unfortunately, I do think the film is too long, because even though I felt engaged in the story, I got tired somewhere in the second half. Oh, and the ending… not my cup of tea. I mean, I give a thumb up for the message, but not how they presented it. Still, I recommend you to see “Boxer”, because it’s not a typical sport film; it’s actually a universal story about the family pressure and not being able to choose our own dreams. So if you’re not into men destroying each other’s faces with fists, then I assure you there’s more to expect from this production.

My rating: 6/10
S.

We have survived. “It’s Not My Film” (“To nie mój film”, 2024)

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directed by Maria Zbąska
© 2024 Mówi Serwis. All Rights Reserved.

I’m generally quite critical about my country’s cinema, but I still give all films a chance and I keep searching for hidden gems. And I’m thrilled to say that “It’s Not My Film” is one of them. I definitely wasn’t expecting to enjoy it, especially since I’d read a short description and known what it’s about. Perhaps I should start watching the productions that seem like not my cup of tea… Anyway, in this story we meet Wanda and Janek (Zofia Chabiera & Marcin Sztabiński), a married couple that have been with each other for 10 years. Unfortunately, they both feel tired of this relation and everyday arguments about trivial things. Janek comes up with an idea to go on an adventure, which could either be their last one or the only salvation. They buy a sledge to carry all the necessary items and they start a winter walk along the Baltic coast in Poland. There’s an important rule – they cannot stop the walk and go to the city. They need to count on themselves and each other, no matter what. If any of them breaks a rule, they end the relationship. You may think it’s a ridiculous idea, but I actually love it and it’s a great metaphor of fighting for the marriage. You see, currently a lot of people give up on each other quite easily, because we’re so sure that true love and a perfect marriage is a Hollywood romantic comedy, where everything goes well, you kiss in the rain and yada yada yada. But it’s not. And whenever a slight inconvenience pops up, people run away. Wanda and Janek are not satisfied with their current relation, but just watch them walking on that beach. They are both furious, cold, exhausted and irritated, but they keep going. They may argue, they may hate each other 24/7, but in the end they keep going. Isn’t it toxic? No, not at all. Because in a healthy relationship there’s space for everything. Arguing over small things and teasing each other is not important. What’s important is that at the end of the day you have your person next to you and you feel their support. Say whatever you want, but I need more of such love stories. Real, honest and imperfect. What’s interesting about the cast is that it was Zofia’s debut, which adds some raw emotions into this film next to an experienced actor like Marcin. Those two created a wonderful chemistry and made me believe in the story. What can I say? I wish you all such relations.

My rating: 7/10
S.

They like to own something forbidden. “Vinci” (2004)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 2004 Studio Filmowe Zebra. All Rights Reserved.

Over twenty years later I’ll soon see a sequel to one of my favourite Polish films. But before I see part II, perhaps it’s a good moment to introduce you to part I, which was released in 2004. If you like action films that trick you with several twists, then you’ll enjoy this one as well. We get to meet Cuma (Robert Więckiewicz), a quite known art thief, who’s just got out of prison. Even though he was sentenced for stealing art, he doesn’t mind going back to business. This time the spotlight is on the “Lady with an Ermine”, the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It’s about to return from Japan to Poland and it seems like a perfect occasion to steal the piece. Cuma contacts his old friend Julian (Borys Szyc), hoping the man will join him again. However, even though Julian owes Cuma a lot, it turns out that he’s now… a police officer. If that’s not complicated enough, Julian comes up with an idea – he will help Cuma steal the painting, but at the same time he’ll make sure that the painting won’t be sold to some overly wealthy guy who just wants to have something special in their mansion. And in order to succeed, Julian starts cooperating with Magda (Kamila Baar), an incredibly talented art student. What comes out of this cooperation is for you to see. Generally, I’m a big fan of Juliusz Machulski as a director, so you may say I’m not being objective. However, I saw “Vinci” before even exploring his other films and I already loved it. It’s a complete story to me, because it has well-written characters, an adventure, lots of plot twists, a pinch of humour and all that is covered with respect for art. I remember that after watching this film for the first time I wanted to learn more about painting techniques. No worries, I’m no art thief – I’d rather die of anxiety than plan something like this. But what I mean to say is that good films don’t only entertain you – they should also push you to exploring some topics. And I guess that’s the best about Machulski’s productions. Recently, I rewatched “Vinci” and I still felt entertained, even though I knew the story very well. Soon, we will have a chance to see “Vinci 2” and I’m both excited and worried about it. On the one hand, I’ll be thrilled to see Cuma and Julian once again, after all those years, but on the other – it’s a sequel made about 20 years later. The possibility that it might be a slight failure is high, like with most sequels. But hey, I’m staying positive! So if you see a post about part II in a few weeks it means they succeeded with the sequel. If there’ll be no post, let’s accept the reality, alright? After all, there’s always part I, which is truly awesome, so go ahead and join the heist in Kraków.

My rating: 8/10
S.

If now is not the time to grieve, I don’t know what to tell you. “A Real Pain” (2024)

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directed by Jesse Eisenberg
© 2024 Searchlight Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Maybe I’ll surprise you with this statement at the beginning, but I was slightly disappointed. So many people were telling me about Eisenberg’s newest film and how much they recommend it. I watched it, I liked it, but no way I could call it a “masterpiece”. Perhaps it’s somehow exotic for Americans, but as a Pole I felt like they americanised my country’s picture, so no, this is definitely not the best portrait of the Polish culture. Bang, I said it. Still, I believe it’s a quite pleasant story to see, therefore I’m writing this post. We’re following two American brothers, David and Benji (Jesse Eisenberg & Kieran Culkin), whose Jewish grandmother was living in Poland. That is why they sign up for an organised trip to discover this country and try to learn about their ancestors’ heritage. David is more of a calm, family guy, who just wishes to experience everything with respect, while Benji is the exact opposite, not taking things that seriously and hiding his feelings behind a huge smile and goofy jokes. As you can imagine, those two have quite different priorities in life, as well as during the trip, so a lot of arguments and adventures are about to happen. I see that Eisenberg created the characters of brothers to show different degrees of feeling pain, but what I got from this film is a reminder that each person has their own sensitivity and way of expressing emotions. So just because Benji is an easygoing guy making fun of everything, it doesn’t mean his pain is of a lesser importance than David’s. I also liked the scene where they were taking pictures with the Warsaw Uprising Monument and Benji started having fun, kind of roleplaying with other tourists, which was something that David found disrespectful. Not taking any sides, but that scene is quite interesting as a discussion starter – how should we approach history nowadays? However, the scene I honestly hated was the one where the brothers put stones in front of the door (you’ll see what door and why) and some random guy got mad about it. Jesse… no. Nobody would care about those stones, definitely not a guy who doesn’t even live in that house. He would rather ask who you are and tell you to go away instead of fussing about some little stones. Yeah, I know you wanted to give a scene explaining the Jewish custom and how little Poles might care about that now, I get it, but you could have worked on that a bit more. As a Pole, I’ve seen several mistakes in this film, so I’m sorry for not being amazed like my cinephile friends from other countries, but two things I admire about it are: showing that every person’s pain is valid (no matter how they express it) and the performance of Kieran Culkin. He really catches attention there and I’m glad we’re seeing more of him nowadays. Wishing you numerous chances to shine, Kieran! To sum up, it’s a good film, but as a Pole I have to say that Polish homework hasn’t been done well. C+ from me (or since in Poland we use numbers as grades, 4+).

My rating: 6/10
S.

Copernicus was a woman. “Sexmission” (“Seksmisja”, 1984)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 1984 Film Polski. All Rights Reserved.


Writing this post is not easy for me. The film I’m recommending you is a classic sci-fi/comedy, perfect for a relaxing evening. However, the reason why I decided to write about it today is because we’ve just lost one of its actors – Jerzy Stuhr. He was a marvellous artist, there was no role he couldn’t handle with pride. Jerzy was truly meant to be an actor. An Actor! He’s given us so many wonderful moments to remember and I’ll definitely have a big rewatching of his productions. What’s more, he made my childhood a bit brighter because he was the one who dubbed Donkey in “Shrek”. You don’t know this about me, but when the first part of “Shrek” was out, I went to the cinema 5 times to see it. Even now, I can recite most lines – that’s how much I loved the film. And obviously, Donkey was my favourite character. Later, I discovered the films in which Jerzy played not only with his voice, and I admired his talent. He was incredibly authentic in his acting, no matter whom he played. In order to remember him and also introduce him to those of you who haven’t seen his roles, I’d like to recommend you “Sexmission”. We move back to 1991 where two brave men, Maks and Albert (Jerzy Stuhr & Olgierd Łukaszewicz), agree to be hibernated for three years in order to support one professor in his experiment. Unfortunately, they are woken up in 2044, so over 50 years later. Turns out, the world looks totally differently from what they remembered. In 2044, there are no men due to a bomb explosion that destroyed male genes. All people left are women who reproduce with the use of parthenogenesis, bringing up only girls, obviously. They don’t know who men are and what they are for, so Maks and Albert have to do everything to teach them about themselves and gain the women’s trust. Otherwise, the last men of this planet might be feminised, if you know what I mean. Before you even think about it, yes, this film is rather controversial in our times. Perhaps some extreme feminists would even say it’s disgusting, because it kind of shows that women wouldn’t be complete without men in such reality. But if you take it as a comedy, I bet you’ll have a lot of fun. After all, it’s a sci-fi production from the 80s – it’s awkward and ridiculous, and that’s how it should be seen. Besides, I actually notice a great message coming out of this film. Women are absolutely capable of doing everything – they can be leaders, mechanics, scientists – 100%. However, life seems more colourful when both men and women coexist, even as friends. At the same time, all the ladies in the story are incredibly independent and proud, which was a rather surprising concept back then in the 80s. This film isn’t about favouring either of the sexes – it’s about totalitarianism and how harmful it may be. If any group is discriminated and limited, there won’t be peace, balance or natural order. But this is more of a deep analysis so, in my opinion, if you don’t take the story seriously, you’ll have a lot of fun and a great time. Jerzy played here an iconic role and his lines are quoted up to this day. He’s made millions of people laugh, which is of the biggest value, and I believe that’s what he’d like to be remembered for. Dziękujemy za wszystko, Mistrzu!

My rating: 8/10
S.

Human dignity is a beautiful thing, just not for a waiter. “Hotel Pacific” (“Zaklęte rewiry”, 1975)

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directed by Janusz Majewski
© 1975 Zespół Filmowy Tor. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I’ve read a reportage about waiters, where I could learn a little bit more about their perspectives. I’ve never had a chance to work as one, even when I was yet a student, so some of their stories surprised me indeed. And in order to put a spotlight on this particular professional group, I’ve decided to recommend you a Polish-Czechoslovak film, which may be especially interesting to those of you who, like me, never worked in a restaurant. The film was made in 1975, but the story is set in the 30s. We get to meet Roman (Marek Kondrat), a teenager coming from the countryside, who wants to find a job in the city. He accidentally enters the restaurant of a fancy hotel called “Pacific”, where they randomly offer him to become their dishwasher. Roman is used to hard and honest work, yet very quickly he realises that it’s not how you do it in such place. Even though I’ve never worked in a restaurant, I don’t live in a total bubble and I know how radical certain decision are made there, like when it comes to leftovers and such. So if you’re not a person riding a unicorn on the rainbow either, you won’t be that surprised. Still, the best part is when Roman is promoted to serve in the restaurant and you can see the contrast between what’s happening in the dining room and what’s happening out back. Even though this film is mostly dramatic, there are numerous moments where you can actually have a laugh. But generally, I found it confusing, which in this case is a big plus. What I mean is that Roman is a genuine, honest and hard-working person, but he has to fight against himself in order to be respected in that specific workplace. Soon he realises that everyone’s playing some kind of game and the better you play it, the longer you may stay there. In fact, you may be promoted as long as they don’t find out about your lies. Personally, I see myself in the character of Roman, because I’ve been taught to do my best, strive for excellence and be a decent human – polite, fair and supportive. Yet, as we all see, the world is not such a wonderful place and you have to adapt to the reality. Also, it shows how much artifice is around us. Even the Czechoslovak title of this film emphasises this point: “Dvojí svět hotelu Pacifik”, which means “A double world of hotel Pacific”. The waiter may seem like your best friend who wants you to enjoy your time, but in fact, they have a specific plan to make you stay longer, order more, pay extra. Simple as that. And I’m not judging – it’s actually pretty fair, business is business, everyone wants to earn more. But I also admire how much you need to coordinate your work as a waiter, because if you’re a good one and your guests are of a much higher status, there are numerous rules you need to remember. I believe one of my favourite moments of this film is when Roman serves one man and he asks for a glass of alcohol. Taught by his superior, Roman brings the whole bottle to the table, hoping that the guest won’t mind and, in the end, pays for the whole bottle, not just one glass. The man, however, gets furious and then Roman finds out that he’s a frequent flyer, who’s also an alcoholic, so he will easily drink that whole bottle, but he doesn’t want anyone to know, so he pretends to be having only one glass. Roman’s job is to keep filling that one glass from time to time, but never leave the bottle on the table. So, one glass stays just one glass, right? That scene says so much about this profession and the world we’re living in. Because even though the film is set in the 30s, so almost 100 years ago, I believe this whole game is ongoing. Make sure to watch it and develop your own opinion. Cheers!

My rating: 7/10
S.

Listen to her own world. “The Queen of Silence” (2014)

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directed by Agnieszka Zawiefka
© 2014 HBO Europe. All Rights Reserved.

Documentary & musical in one? Voilà. Have you ever wondered how the deaf hear music? Today’s film may explain quite a lot, but also shock you in many ways. We get to know little Denisa, who’s a 10-year-old gypsy living in Poland. Just like her whole family and the camp’s community, she’s in this country illegally, yet there’s not much authorities can do about it. Or maybe there’s another explanation, but I wouldn’t like to go political in this post because it’s totally not about it. The main star here is Denisa and we should focus on her. She was born with a hearing disability and has never received any medical support, so she’s been living in silence all her life. Before you start judging her parents, remember that gypsies generally live a very different life than we may know. Considering their situation, they are deprived of any support, including the medical one. So they try to stay away from any institutions and deal with anything that happens. That is why Denisa’s disability has never been taken care of and the girl simply had to accept her reality. However, that didn’t stop her from becoming a real sunshine. She’s an incredibly energetic and social person, and her biggest passion are Bollywood films, as she enjoys watching and dancing together with the actors. She “hears” music in her own way and makes the best out of it. This film shows her everyday life and also first meetings with specialists who may help her manage her disability. Due to the hearing problem, she also hasn’t developed in speaking, so with a hearing aid, she will have to make her first steps in communicating verbally. I have to say I was incredibly touched by this story and impressed how much a little girl can handle with absolutely no support from her surrounding. And it only made me reflect about numerous children from different communities and places in the world who are neglected because of very different reasons, while there are children in more developed countries who may actually live a quality life despite their disability. Denisa, deprived of such chance, has created her own beautiful reality, which only made her stronger as a person. As a little girl. As a child. Very interesting documentary full of Bollywood songs, so I’m more than satisfied and happy to recommend it.

My rating: 7/10
S.

There’s nothing you have to do. “Blind Chance” (“Przypadek”, 1987)

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directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski
© 1987 Zespół Filmowy “Tor”. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I shared with you a recommendation of “Run Lola Run”, which many critics compare to “Blind Chance” by Krzysztof Kieślowski and believe the German producers have found a lot of inspiration in the Polish drama. And since I’m a big fan of “Blind Chance”, there’s no chance I’m going to skip writing about it. The main character is Witek (Bogusław Linda), a student who has to catch a train. Simple. He’s in a big hurry, but luckily manages to catch it. Later we follow him and his actions, which lead to a certain ending. Then we get back to that railway station and again see Witek trying to catch a train, but this time he’s stopped by a security guard, with whom he gets into a fight, and not only misses his train, but also ends up being forced to do public works as a kind of punishment. And as you might be guessing, his life looks totally different than in the first scenario. However, that’s not the end, because at some point we get back to the same railway station for the third time and now Witek misses his train without getting into any fight. And again, he goes through absolutely different adventures. I have to admit that it’s probably one of my beloved films made by Kieślowski, as it speaks to me each time I rewatch it. However, the first time I saw it was definitely an unforgettable experience, because I discovered a new way of telling the story and a new way of playing some sort of a mind game with the viewer. I remember how speechless I was when I saw the ending – it was the biggest cherry on the tastiest cinematographic cake I’d had. What’s interesting is that nowadays this film is very much appreciated by critics all over the world, but back then many authorities were against it – not only because of political reasons, but they also saw it as a production with a limited artistic expression. Adorable paradox, considering the kinds of films they actually approved. Anyway, even though the film had its premiere in 1987, it was made before that, but due to the martial law, they weren’t allowed to screen it for six years. I’ve read a lot of different interpretations of this film and I feel like each person may read it differently, which, in my opinion, makes it a quality production. Some believe that only one of the three scenarios was real, some others say they were all hypothetical. Some see it as an unrealistic picture, some others couldn’t imagine a better presented reality of the 80s. How do I see it? For me it’s a story which reminds us that no matter what path we choose, what happens to us – we should always remain true to ourselves and our own values. I recommend you to pay attention to the main character and how he acts in all three versions, I bet you’ll understand what I mean. And if you’ve never seen any film by Kieślowski, I bet this one is a perfect start.

My rating: 8/10
S.

The meaning of life? Life is meaning. “Balcony Movie” (“Film balkonowy”, 2021)

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directed by Paweł Łoziński
© 2021 HBO Europe. All Rights Reserved.

I love this film. I just simply l-o-v-e this film. When I heard of it for the first time, I already knew I’d love it. Why? Because it’s unusual, it’s creative and it sounds like a rollercoaster of emotions – basically three things I need to appreciate a film. Today I’m taking you to Poland, to Warsaw and to one balcony. The director decided to put a video camera on his flat’s balcony and record passers-by. However, he didn’t just want to stalk people (or did he?). Instead, he was saying “hello” to them and asking questions. What would you do if some strange guy on the balcony started asking you questions about the meaning of life? Or not only, maybe he wants to know what you’re reading. Or where you’re currently going to. Would you stop for a chat? You have to see yourselves the results of this little experiment, I’m not spoiling anything. But I have to admit that I was absolutely engaged in the documentary from the very beginning. At first I was amazed by the idea, because it’s so simple yet genius. And incredibly convenient, if you ask me. You’re just sitting on the balcony in your sleepers and baggy clothes, drinking coffee from your favourite cup and the film is making itself. Then, I was laughing like crazy seeing the reactions of people, their confused faces, especially when they weren’t sure about talking to Paweł, but they still approached the fence where the microphone was. Typical body-mind incoherence. But then I focused on the questions and answers. Paweł didn’t need to ask anything difficult to start a rather deep or uncomfortable conversation. Some people either needed to share their problems or felt like there’s nothing lighter to be said, so in few seconds we were going from a cheerful “good morning” to having a broken heart. But one thing I’ve noticed in most of the passers-by was that they liked being asked something. They enjoyed that someone noticed them and wanted to know how they were doing. Or even a simple “good morning” was making their day. So, now you see what I mean by that emotional rollercoaster? On the one hand, I had so much fun watching this documentary and laughed at loud quite often, but on the other, we’re living in such a closed world, separated from each other, not noticing others and just doing what we’re supposed to be doing. No questions asked. And maybe sometimes we need such guy on the balcony to ask us about the meaning of life? Or just exchange a good word, you know?

My rating: 8/10
S.

Freedom, but nobody will notice it. “How Much Does the Trojan Horse Weigh?” (“Ile waży koń trojański?”, 2008)

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directed by Juliusz Machulski
© 2008 Monolith Films. All Rights Reserved.

Today I’d like to recommend you one of my favourite Polish productions, which I’ve seen several times and absolutely love getting back to. Not only it’s directed by one of, in my opinion, most talented and creative Polish directors, but in two hours it shows a lot about the culture of Poland and shares universal messages that any of you may make use of. We get to know Zosia (Ilona Ostrowska), who’s turning 40 on the New Year’s Eve in 1999. She’s currently happily married to Kuba (Maciej Marczewski) and together they raise Florka (Sylwia Dziorek), Zosia’s daughter from the previous marriage with Darek (Robert Więckiewicz). I’m sorry I’m throwing a lot of names at you, but it may be crucial for you to understand what’s next. So, during the first night of 2000, Zosia somehow moves back in time and in the morning she wakes up on the 15th of May 1987. She’s then yet before 30, married to Darek, without her daughter and definitely without her future husband Kuba. Zosia is absolutely panicked, but knowing what will happen in the next years, she decides to take some actions to not only help herself, but also her friends and family. All that might not be easy considering her longing for Kuba and Florka… and the fact that Poland in 1987 was very different from the year 2000. This film was released in 2008, so when I watched it back then, there were two dimensions for me – the 80s and the end of the 90s/2000. However, as I recently rewatched the film, I experienced it even better, because now I could compare those two realities with the current state, which gave me a totally new perspective on the story. Generally, it’s an adventure film with a bit of romance, so everyone should enjoy watching it. Especially if you’re not from an Eastern European country, the film may be a wonderful history and culture lesson. Besides, except an adorable love story, there’s also this touching message, which I expressed in the title of today’s post. Recently, when I rewatched the film, this one line got stuck in my head and I reflected a lot. We honestly don’t appreciate what we have. I know, I know, we all have our personal issues, we’re all stuck in the pandemic reality, I know. Still, we have unlimited possibilities to express ourselves, to enjoy our life, to keep developing. Not that long time ago the world looked much different, but it seems like we’ve forgotten about it. This production made me realise that hey – my passport is with me, not in some office, and I can just grab it and go (together with a c-passport, but hey, still!). I can actually stay in whatever hotel I want and nobody needs to know where I’m from. If I want to have a fancy dinner, I don’t need to collect the products for weeks because shops are empty. I can pay with a card, not lots of high-denomination bills. Wait, I could pay with a card 10 years ago – now I use my phone for that. You see? Oh and no need to worry about burning my hands while drinking hot tea/coffee in a thin glass… I still remember those – nightmare. If you have no idea what I’m referring to, you must see today’s film. Just one last comment – Ilona Ostrowska as Zosia together with her film grandma Danuta Szaflarska are a wonderful female tandem, which makes me miss my own grandma and the days we spent together. By the way, this film is dedicated to the director’s father, Jan Machulski, who died shortly before the premiere and whom you can spot for a second or two in the film if you have a good eye.

My rating: 8/10
S.