The film "Awans" (Advance) is an adaptation of the novel with the same name by Edward Redlinski, made by the author himself. It is a humorous story about the social and civilizational changes in the Polish countryside in the early 1970s. The film's protagonist, Marian Grzyb, returns to his home village after his studies and undertakes the task of modernization. The film director was Janusz Zaorski, who, even during the rule of the communists in Poland, managed to make a couple of good and propaganda-free films. I found "Awans" quite funny and refreshing. The humor here is different than in the cult movies of the famous film director Stanislaw Bareja ("Teddy Bear"). Bareja's films were based on situational humor resulting from the ridiculousness of life in the Polish People's Republic, which was full of contradictions. That humor was outrageously funny, but sometimes difficult to understand for people who don't remember those times. The humor in "Awans" is more subtle and can be applied to many countries. And the main message is not that dated-some communities make progress, but the development of agritourism makes us return to the old forms of buildings and old behaviors. This is done simply to attract more tourists. In "Awans" you can also enjoy the performances of some sympathetic actors who were then young, like Marian Opania, Bozena Dykiel and Marek Perepeczko.
