Petla (1958)

Director:

Wojciech Has

Writers:

Wojciech Has, Marek Hlasko (screenplay),

Stars:

Gustaw Holoubek, Aleksandra Slaska, Teresa Szmigielówna

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gustaw Holoubek	...	Kuba Kowalski
Aleksandra Slaska	...	Krystyna
Teresa Szmigielówna	...	Kuba's old love
Tadeusz Fijewski	...	Wladek
Stanislaw Milski	...	Rybicki
Wladyslaw Dewoyno	...	Electrician Wladek
Tadeusz Gwiazdowski	...	Supt. Zenek
Juliusz Grabowski	...	Waiter
Marian Jastrzebski	...	Tailor
Emil Karewicz	...	Waiter Gienek
Roman Klosowski	...	Electrician Janek
Ignacy Machowski	...	Sergeant
Helena Makowska	...	Barmaid
Igor Przegrodzki	...	Kuba's friend
Zygmunt Zintel	...	Harmonist Poldek

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

telephone | vodka | loop | drunkenness | police station | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish

Release Date:

20 January 1958 (Poland)

Also Known As:

The Noose

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zespol Filmowy "Iluzjon"

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The Lesson of Polish Cinema (2002)

User Reviews

A compelling film

Dark and truthful about alcohol addiction. Dark streets of Krakow, dark moments. 24 hours in the life of a man ready to quit drinking...but will he make it? Some ready to help him, some ready to drag him down. Even the walls seem to play a part in the suspense. The same oppressiveness as in Bergman's Silence with the same intelligence in manipulating time sequences: a factual, step-by-step narrative becomes slowly warped, elliptic... Fine black-and-white photography, sharp dialogs. Sterling proof of Wojciech Has's talent and yet another example of how good Polish cinema was.

The (long and central) drinking scene with the ex-saxophonist wasted by vodka is a gem. Gustaw Holoubek is extraordinary throughout and the short form for the name of his character "Kuba" will probably remain ringing in your ears…