Polish cinema
Wojciech Smarzowski
The Wedding (Wesele), 2004
An adaptation of an important piece of Polish culture - Stanisław Wyspiański's play of that title from 1901. Smarzowski's film updates the original's critical, sarcastic exposure of 19th-century Polish society. Against the backdrop of the wedding of the pregnant daughter of a rich villager who marries her off to a man who agrees to take her for his wife in exchange for a modern sports car, Smarzowski drew a caricature of Polish society and all its national sins. To evade the cold, calculating gangster who delivered the sports car, the father bribes a notary, a policeman and even the priest.
The Dark House (Dom zły), 2009
Set during martial law in Poland in the 1980s. In the Bieszczady Mountains in remote southeast Poland, an unemployed zootechnics specialist with a dark past and a growing drinking problem tries to start over with a clean slate. Taking up a new job at a State Agricultural Farm in the region, he makes an accidental stopover in a farmhouse. He stays for the night with a random family.
Rose (Róża), 2011
In summer 1945 Tadeusz Mazur, an officer of the Armia Krajowa and veteran of the Warsaw uprising, whose wife was raped and murdered by the Germans, moves to Masuria, a region in former German East Prussia, which became part of Poland as a result of the Potsdam Agreement after World War II. He visits Róża, a widow of a German Wehrmacht soldier whose death Tadeusz had witnessed, to hand over her husband’s possessions. Róża invites Tadeusz to stay at her farm to protect her against marauders and the brutal rapes she had previously experienced in the lawless atmosphere of postwar Masuria.
Traffic Department (Drogówka), 2013
Set on the streets of contemporary Warsaw, seven policemen from the eponymous Traffic Department are colleagues and good friends who work hard and party hard. The plot thickens when one dies in mysterious circumstances and his colleague, Sgt. Ryszard Król, is accused of being involved. Attempting to clear his record, Król discovers the truth about links between government and criminals.
The Mighty Angel (Pod Mocnym Aniołem), 2014
Jerzy is a celebrity writer and a chronic alcoholic who camouflages his drinking problem with his wits and charm. As a frequent visitor of the rehab center, he meets fellow addicts from all walks of life and social backgrounds.
Volhynia (Wołyń), 2016
Despite being in love with a Ukrainian boy from the same village, Polish girl named Zosia is forced into marrying a wealthy widower. Soon World War II begins and ethnic tensions arise. Amidst the war chaos Zosia tries to survive. Good illustration of what happened on Polish borderlands during the WW2.
Władysław Pasikowski
Psy (Pigs), 1992
In communist regime Franz Maurer and his partners from secret police used to live like kings. Now, they all must adapt to new post-communist environment where they are scorned and losing all the privileges. Some, like Franz, are like ordinary police fighting against drug dealers. But Franz would soon find that some of his friends are on the other side.
Psy 2: Ostatnia krew (Pigs 2, Last blood), 1994
Franz Maurer, a compromised cop, former officer of the criminal department of the Warsaw's police, is released from prison where he was doing time for his brutality and murders. He is awaited by the New, his fellow-policeman. At the same time, a merciless war continues in former Yugoslavia. Wolf and William, two high rank officers, come to Poland in order to organize a network selling and smuggling arms to Yugoslavia by way of Albania.
Andrzej Wajda
Ziemia obiecana (Promised Land), 1975
At the turn of the century, Lodz, Poland was a quick-paced manufacturing center for textiles, replete with cutthroat industrialists and unsafe working conditions. Three young friends, a Pole, a Jew and a German, pool their money together to build a factory. The movie follows their ruthless pursuit of fortune. It has a bit leftist spirit but it is a splendid watch.
Stanislaw Bareja
Miś (Teddy Bear), 1981
Rysiek (Stanisław Tym, who also wrote the screenplay), the shrewd manager of a state-sponsored sports club, has to get to London before his ex-wife Irena (Barbara Burska) does to collect an enormous sum of money from a savings account the two used to share in happier days.
Hilarity ensues as Bareja gives the audience a guided tour of the corruption, absurd bureaucracy, pervasive bribery and flourishing black market that pervaded socialism in the People's Republic of Poland.
Marek Koterski
Nic śmiesznego (Nothing funny), 1995
Tracks the hilariously bumbling, calamity-ridden life of director Adam Miauczyński. Both his career and his romantic relationships are suffering, but, since his total lack of common sense is at the root of his problems, he has no idea how to set things right again.
Dzień świra (A day of wacko), 2002
24 hours in the bitter life of a frustrated divorced teacher who stays in the vicious circle of his numerous obsessions.
Olaf Lubaszenko
Chlopaki nie płaczą (Boys don’t cry) (2000)
A satirical look at the gangsters of Poland and some teens who accidentally get involved with them.
Poranek kojota (2001)
Kuba, a young cartoon artist who works as a waiter at sophisticated parties, falls in love with beautiful Noemi and accidentally gets involved in gangster affairs.
Juliusz Machulski
Kiler (Killer), 1997
An innocent cab driver Jurek Kiler is mistaken for a contract killer and imprisoned. Soon, he is sprung by a mob boss who needs "Killer" for a few more jobs.
Kilerów 2-óch (2 killers), 1999
Jurek Kiler (see the prequel to this movie, "Kiler") has become a VIP - sponsoring the Polish government, playing tennis with the President, and stuff. He must oversee a transfer of a substantial amount of gold. However, in his past activities, he has made enemies. Mighty ones. And thus Jurek Kiler's next adventure begins as he has to face attempts at kidnapping, assassinations, and problems in his love life.
These movies are my personal favourite. They will give you plenty of insight into Polish culture, history, customs and sense of humour. Recommended for everyone interested in Poland.
Wojciech Smarzowski
The Wedding (Wesele), 2004
An adaptation of an important piece of Polish culture - Stanisław Wyspiański's play of that title from 1901. Smarzowski's film updates the original's critical, sarcastic exposure of 19th-century Polish society. Against the backdrop of the wedding of the pregnant daughter of a rich villager who marries her off to a man who agrees to take her for his wife in exchange for a modern sports car, Smarzowski drew a caricature of Polish society and all its national sins. To evade the cold, calculating gangster who delivered the sports car, the father bribes a notary, a policeman and even the priest.
The Dark House (Dom zły), 2009
Set during martial law in Poland in the 1980s. In the Bieszczady Mountains in remote southeast Poland, an unemployed zootechnics specialist with a dark past and a growing drinking problem tries to start over with a clean slate. Taking up a new job at a State Agricultural Farm in the region, he makes an accidental stopover in a farmhouse. He stays for the night with a random family.
Rose (Róża), 2011
In summer 1945 Tadeusz Mazur, an officer of the Armia Krajowa and veteran of the Warsaw uprising, whose wife was raped and murdered by the Germans, moves to Masuria, a region in former German East Prussia, which became part of Poland as a result of the Potsdam Agreement after World War II. He visits Róża, a widow of a German Wehrmacht soldier whose death Tadeusz had witnessed, to hand over her husband’s possessions. Róża invites Tadeusz to stay at her farm to protect her against marauders and the brutal rapes she had previously experienced in the lawless atmosphere of postwar Masuria.
Traffic Department (Drogówka), 2013
Set on the streets of contemporary Warsaw, seven policemen from the eponymous Traffic Department are colleagues and good friends who work hard and party hard. The plot thickens when one dies in mysterious circumstances and his colleague, Sgt. Ryszard Król, is accused of being involved. Attempting to clear his record, Król discovers the truth about links between government and criminals.
The Mighty Angel (Pod Mocnym Aniołem), 2014
Jerzy is a celebrity writer and a chronic alcoholic who camouflages his drinking problem with his wits and charm. As a frequent visitor of the rehab center, he meets fellow addicts from all walks of life and social backgrounds.
Volhynia (Wołyń), 2016
Despite being in love with a Ukrainian boy from the same village, Polish girl named Zosia is forced into marrying a wealthy widower. Soon World War II begins and ethnic tensions arise. Amidst the war chaos Zosia tries to survive. Good illustration of what happened on Polish borderlands during the WW2.
Władysław Pasikowski
Psy (Pigs), 1992
In communist regime Franz Maurer and his partners from secret police used to live like kings. Now, they all must adapt to new post-communist environment where they are scorned and losing all the privileges. Some, like Franz, are like ordinary police fighting against drug dealers. But Franz would soon find that some of his friends are on the other side.
Psy 2: Ostatnia krew (Pigs 2, Last blood), 1994
Franz Maurer, a compromised cop, former officer of the criminal department of the Warsaw's police, is released from prison where he was doing time for his brutality and murders. He is awaited by the New, his fellow-policeman. At the same time, a merciless war continues in former Yugoslavia. Wolf and William, two high rank officers, come to Poland in order to organize a network selling and smuggling arms to Yugoslavia by way of Albania.
Andrzej Wajda
Ziemia obiecana (Promised Land), 1975
At the turn of the century, Lodz, Poland was a quick-paced manufacturing center for textiles, replete with cutthroat industrialists and unsafe working conditions. Three young friends, a Pole, a Jew and a German, pool their money together to build a factory. The movie follows their ruthless pursuit of fortune. It has a bit leftist spirit but it is a splendid watch.
Stanislaw Bareja
Miś (Teddy Bear), 1981
Rysiek (Stanisław Tym, who also wrote the screenplay), the shrewd manager of a state-sponsored sports club, has to get to London before his ex-wife Irena (Barbara Burska) does to collect an enormous sum of money from a savings account the two used to share in happier days.
Hilarity ensues as Bareja gives the audience a guided tour of the corruption, absurd bureaucracy, pervasive bribery and flourishing black market that pervaded socialism in the People's Republic of Poland.
Marek Koterski
Nic śmiesznego (Nothing funny), 1995
Tracks the hilariously bumbling, calamity-ridden life of director Adam Miauczyński. Both his career and his romantic relationships are suffering, but, since his total lack of common sense is at the root of his problems, he has no idea how to set things right again.
Dzień świra (A day of wacko), 2002
24 hours in the bitter life of a frustrated divorced teacher who stays in the vicious circle of his numerous obsessions.
Olaf Lubaszenko
Chlopaki nie płaczą (Boys don’t cry) (2000)
A satirical look at the gangsters of Poland and some teens who accidentally get involved with them.
Poranek kojota (2001)
Kuba, a young cartoon artist who works as a waiter at sophisticated parties, falls in love with beautiful Noemi and accidentally gets involved in gangster affairs.
Juliusz Machulski
Kiler (Killer), 1997
An innocent cab driver Jurek Kiler is mistaken for a contract killer and imprisoned. Soon, he is sprung by a mob boss who needs "Killer" for a few more jobs.
Kilerów 2-óch (2 killers), 1999
Jurek Kiler (see the prequel to this movie, "Kiler") has become a VIP - sponsoring the Polish government, playing tennis with the President, and stuff. He must oversee a transfer of a substantial amount of gold. However, in his past activities, he has made enemies. Mighty ones. And thus Jurek Kiler's next adventure begins as he has to face attempts at kidnapping, assassinations, and problems in his love life.
These movies are my personal favourite. They will give you plenty of insight into Polish culture, history, customs and sense of humour. Recommended for everyone interested in Poland.
