Papierowe malzenstwo

Although this film's budget befitted the impoverished circumstances of the main characters and the script is rather threadbare at times, the characterization is great. The basis is the mutual mistrust and attraction of the stunningly attractive Polish blonde, Alicja, and the English art student turned courier for a sleezy strip club operator/porno dealer - despite their different cultures both are educated and their needs are similar. The secondary characters add life also: Alicja's intended doctor fiance who reveals himself as a wimp, her Newcastle landlady who is businesslike but offbeat, the book publisher whose lustful interest in her is a little too obvious. We are reminded of Gary Kemp's musical renown in the scene with the one-man-band busker and his harmonica, and the scene where Alicja begins her strip in the club has a cool blues guitar soundtrack. 7/10.