Przesluchanie (1989)

Director:

Ryszard Bugajski

Writers:

Ryszard Bugajski (writer)
Janusz Dymek (writer)

Release Date:

13 December 1989 (Poland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Tonia goes out drinking. She wakes up in prison, not having a clue why she's there. She is tortured to encourage her to confess to a crime she is not aware of. |

Plot Keywords:

Vodka | Communism | Freedom | Political | Police Brutality

Awards:

8 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Krystyna Janda	...	Antonina 'Tonia' Dziwisz
Adam Ferency	...	Lieutenant Morawski
Janusz Gajos	...	Major Zawada "Kapielowy"
Agnieszka Holland	...	Communist Witkowska
Anna Romantowska	...	Miroslawa "Mira" Szejnert
Bozena Dykiel	...	Honorata
Olgierd Lukaszewicz	...	Konstanty Dziwisz (Tonia's husband)
Tomasz Dedek	...	UB officer "Czesiek" arresting Tonia
Jan Jurewicz	...	Guard
Jaroslaw Kopaczewski	...	UB officer arresting Tonia
Zofia Balucka	...	Cell-mate
Arkadiusz Bazak	...	Officer at Name-Day Party
Krzysztof Gosztyla	...	Alledged victim
Antonina Girycz	...	Cell Top Dog
O. Jasinska

Also Known As:

Interrogation
Przesłuchanie (Poland)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Hong Kong:III

Company:

Zespól Filmowy "X"

Trivia:

Completed in 1982, but due to its controversial anti-communist themes, was banned by the Polish government (then under Stalinist rule) for 7 years until 1989 after the disintegration of the Soviet Bloc.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lekcja polskiego kina (2002)

A disturbingly shocking film- banned for 8 years!

This is must see viewing as a masterpiece of the political prisoner or torture film genre. Or for those curious about recent Eastern European history. It is also among the top films made by Poland, which turned more high quality cinema than any other country from the former Eastern block.

As the title implies, what we see here is a (forced) confession in Stalinist Poland. After a one-night stand with a military officer, a cabaret singer is imprisoned by the secret police, without ever being informed of her alleged crime. For the next five years, she is subjected to harrowing torture and harassment, which she doggedly withstands in a struggle to maintain her dignity and sanity.

The film was executive produced by Polish living legend A. Wajda, and produced through the sate-run film studio during a period of relative liberalism in Poland. But, then came martial law after the Solidarity Movement gained worldwide attention.

Thus, upon its completion in 1982, "Interrogation" was banned by the Polish government for being "inflammatory and dangerous". Years later, the director managed to smuggle a copy of his film out of the country. It soon-after opened at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, garnering a Best Actress Award for Kristina Janda for her stunning performance. Ms. Janda is a fixture in Polish films since the late 70s to the late 90s. She can be seen in most politically oriented Polish films of the 80s.

An another interesting feature is seeing A. Holland in a major acting role. She went on to become one of the top female directors in all of Europe (and North America) in the 90s, with high profile films in French, German and English.

This film is a gem, and it is available world wide in video. In the US and in Brazil, the film is available at many mainstream stores I've visited in the foreign section. You'll recognize it by the label across its cover stating- BANNED FOR EIGHT YEARS. As commercial as this might first appear (a la "banned in Boston!), after you see the film, you will understand why it would be have banned at all cost by any totalitarian regime. The film is a shocker!