What shall I call this film, the closest I can perhaps get is sports noir, and trust me, I am not kidding. The movie has a great story, combining sports and mystery beautifully, and the style and atmosphere deeply resonate with elements of film noir. Yes, there is no crime or money, at least not perceptibly, but this definitely has an overtone of moral crimes that lies at the center of the drama. The story follows Marek Arens' (an ace runner) quest and his slow demystification of an enigma named Jowita, an illusive girl he meets fleetingly at a party. Slowly his search consumes him, and gradually, in his restlessness, Marek starts sacrificing himself. He is caught between reality and illusion(?) and this exact feeling is captured by the director perfectly. Various closeups of ladies never lets you relax, you can never ignore the omnipresence of Jowita; several characters are introduced who create doubts in your mind; the music has a tense quality (btw, I think the Skyfall theme has been ripped from this theme) and the orchestra (and the superb violinist) adds to the gripping atmosphere. In between all the tension, and love, sometimes solicited sometimes not, Marek starts to lose himself and tries to draw away from racing. Enter Zbigniew Cybulski with a powerhouse cameo that I absolutely loved. Actually I found a distinct flavor in how the behaviors, conversations and attitudes of sports people is captured and how that becomes an intricate part of Marek's journey. "Life is an Olympics" alright! The film is also very much about the nature of romance and it actually outlines the diverse nature of love and how, sometimes, it can be torturous to choose between fantasy and reality.
