NIGHTS AND DAYS based on the novel by Maria Dabrowska is perhaps better known as a 12 episode-TV series than a film. Indeed, there are episodes that focus on particular aspects, each one with a seperate title. Yet, as a matter of fact, that condensation for the needs of a feature film does not make the story and its depiction lose its charm. Simply because it is so awesome and still inspiring at multiple levels - a costume drama that has stood a test of time. Let me consider some of its strengths in more details...
SOMETHING ABOUT THE DIRECTOR and DIRECTION. Jerzy Antczak handles the adaptation and the direction in a particularly subtle manner. His cooperation with the cast resulted in some splendid effects: it is all fluent, interesting, nice to watch, there are rarely any long scenes that were quite typical in some other productions of the genre and there is a very skillful grasp of the times the story is set in. There are not many liberties taken with the original literary cource and the story of Niechcic family is depicted respectfully. Their story being set in a difficult period for Polish history: the partition of Poland is unique and very touching. It was the period when the country did not exist in the map and was divided into three: the Prussian part, the Russian part and the Austrian part (1795-1918)
THE LEADING CAST: Barbara (Jadwiga Baranska) and Bogumil Niechcic (Jerzy Binczycki) are the embodiment of a couple that represent different characters, totally different expectations of life one could have and yet something unites them. Apart from the patriotic aspect of their story that foreign viewers might find difficult to grasp, Jadwiga Baranska portrays a subtle woman who is clearly in love with city life and struggles to live this way. Clearly, she does not love Bogumil as one would wish to. Even she admits from time to time that she is not a good wife for him. She longs for her 'man of dreams' that gave her flowers, she longs for grandeur, for charming manners but, in the long run, she comes to accept and even like the very spots and people fate has placed her in. It is one of the few films when the leading character's reflections and thoughts are expressed in the script. She is a thinker. Jerzy Binczycki, on the other hand, portrays a man whose heart and mind are set on village, on land, in love with the field and ready to dedicate all his life to that. Serbinowo, where they spend most of their lives, is his homeland, a piece of land and the house that he seems to live for and leave for his children. Yet, the fate occurs to bring on certain unexpected events.... They are an unforgettable couple and a true highlight of the story symbolizing the Poland of the time as well. They experience their joys and sorrows, they go through tough and lighter moments, they embody nights and days. While Bogumil represents belonging, Barbara represents individuality. Jadwiga Baranska, the director Jerzy Antczak's wife, being interviewed about the role's effect on her life and her career, said that, in a way, the character of Barbara Niechcic appealed to her and has truly been 'the role' of her life.
THE SUPPORTING CAST: NIGHTS AND DAYS is a pleasure to watch because of its characters that come and go perhaps; however, leave a lasting impression on a viewer. It is a great achievement in the production of this genre because a real danger is the situation when there are too many characters and in time, viewers get confused who was who (not to mention the fact when they are similar). That is not the case with NIGHTS AND DAYS. Daniel Ostrzenski played by a great Polish actor Jerzy Kamas provides many episodes with some fun manifesting a man of upper class living standards. His wife Michalina (Janina Traczykowna) with her specific tone of voice has some hilarious scenes where priorities of life come out. Stanislawa Celinska as Agnieszka Niechcic is a representative of the young generation of the time between the 19th and the 20th century with the ideas of liberty that grew in societies and the ideas of emancipation as well. Her sister Emilka (Ilona Kusmierska) is different, more naive perhaps, slightly laughable but likeable. Their opposite is Tomasz Niechcic, their brother played by Kazimierz Mazur. What a character! Although his mother constantly calls him Tomaszek (a more affectionate way), he seems not to care about anyone or anything....Among the background characters, one should pay attention to Celina Katelba (played by Anna Nehrebecka) - quite a tragic personality and quite a psychological conclusion from her relationship with Janusz (young Olgierd Lukaszewicz in the role). It is hard to mention all but finally, when I think of characters, I would like to point out Zarnecka, a cook at the Niechcices' (Ryszarda Hanin). A woman who seems vulgar at first but we grow to like her as Bogumil and Barbara did...
MUSIC: There are quite a lot of films the story of which is set in that very special period and they can boast really wonderful tunes, the melodies catchy to the ear and to the heart. However, I doubt there is actually any that may equal this one here written by Waldemar Kazanecki. This soundtrack provides the viewer with magnificent impressions, helps us journey into the times of that grandeur, elegance, great ideals, charm. The waltz of NIGHTS AND DAYS are really inspiring and so beautiful that they leave a trace in the hearts of even most 'unmusical' audiences. As if we were waltzing in time and space, waltzing to our nostalgia and memories that never were and, as a matter of fact, have always been.
LOCATIONS: Yet another aspect that really constitutes the key to understand the story and embodies Poland are the stunning locations. I do not only mean the beautiful mansions the film was shot in, the lovely gardens, the breathtaking interiors from the period when furniture was a sort of "art" and not merely practical use. I foremost mean the lovely views of nature, the fields with people working, the tree alleys, the unforgettable depiction of forests in winter, the longing and joy carved in the soil that suffered a lot and helped people survive. Sometimes, these moments might seem a bit long for viewers who expect action but, remember, it appears to be more and more logical assumption that action condensed the sensitive perception of art and the art itself tremendously.
NIGHTS AND DAYS with many of its episodes is still one of these productions that may bring your mind to some different world, the world where people did not lack sorrows, epidemies, mourning, the times when our country did not exist, when its 'masters' declared its downfall and yet, there was a strange hope in survival, that simple attachment to the land and one another, when nights and days were passing by to changeable tunes of love in sacrifice, disappointment, rises and falls, duties of belonging and uniqueness of individuality. Above all, the brightness of days that may shed light upon the darkness of nights...
