Przypadek (1987)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Krzysztof Kieslowski

Writer:

Krzysztof Kieslowski (writer)

Release Date:

14 August 1989 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Witek runs after a train. Three variations follow on how such a seemingly banal incident could influence the rest of Witek's life.

Plot Keywords:

Train | Repeated Event | Parallel Time | Station | Communism

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Boguslaw Linda	...	Witek
Tadeusz Lomnicki	...	1. Werner
Zbigniew Zapasiewicz	...	1. Adam
Boguslawa Pawelec	...	1. Czuszka
Marzena Trybala	...	2. Werka
Jacek Borkowski	...	2. Marek
Jacek Sas-Uhrynowski	...	2. Daniel
Adam Ferency	...	2. Ksiadz
Monika Gozdzik	...	3. Olga
Zygmunt Hubner	...	3. Dzirkan
Irena Byrska	...	3. Ciotka

Also Known As:

Blind Chance (International: English title)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Iceland:L | Australia:MA (cable rating)

Company:

P.P. Film Polski

Trivia:

Although the movie was made in 1981, it had its premiere in 1987. The delay was because of state-imposed censorship due to the film's political content.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sliding Doors (1998)

Great Film

No way I could read the previous terrible review and not comment.

This film is outstanding and is a must-see for anyone interested in films by Kieslowski and films of this era. It is also a great film for non-film buffs who are interested in the experience of Eastern European Communism.

This movie formats the ethical problems of living under/in Communism better than any professor or history book. You don't have to have an intricate knowledge of communism, ethics, or of post-WWII Polish history to enjoy the film. But you have to follow each scenario closely. You can't doze off or leave the theater. (I would think that the 3-in-1 format alone would be enjoyable for the average viewer--who should be able to clearly delineate the basic dilemmas in each setting.)

Those who did not live in Poland or Central and Eastern Europe can probably not fully relate to the multiple ethical obstacles daily life presented and the existential nature of it all. However, we all have choices to make in our daily lives. Although in a totally different setting, we all must make a choice to join, resist, or withdraw in various stages of our lives.

I would strongly encourage anyone to view this film. I would also encourage the previous reviewer, and any viewer of the film, to watch it more than once.