Streaming services are exposing Polish cinema to the world, and this minor gem is a sign of progress. A young man in the early 1980s is dragged unexpectedly into the world of political dissent and slips easily into the habits of experienced small-time revolutionaries.
The weakness is that it falls into four chapters, each with a quota of boxes to tick. Before: art student, girlfriend, mildly rebellious music. Prisoner: casual violence, torture, demands fir names and a confession. Political prisoner: mutual respect, relative comfort in prison, shared self-education. Freedom: hope, possibility of new life, seoaration from old friends and old ways.
Editing or budget constraints leave a feeling that bits are missing or explained rather than shown. Franek's grandmother is never seen but we know she is German. What does this signify? Why does a dog appear in the final scene? It is the antithesis of Checkov's rifle. Brezhnev is mentioned in passing (literally), and there are references to Solidarnosc, but unexplored. General Jaruzelski is not even mentioned, despite his pivotal role at the time.
Franek's prison haircut is unconvincing. I am not willing to accept a fashion statement from a trusted prisoner with manual shears. His mother is beautifully played but we only really know she has suffered by her having to sell a painting to fund his legal representation (with questionable benefit).
I would have liked to see more, even if it meant extending the running time, but overall the film was watchable and followed the desired path. Franek is the constant, other characters remaining unexplored and undeveloped, but this was my third Polish film in four days and left me interested to see what else they can do.
