Chemia (2015)

Thirty year old Benek experiences a crisis mainly manifested by compulsive suicidal thoughts and dreams about death. Accidentally he meets a beautiful, magnetic and mouthy Lena. He is ... See full summary »

Director:

Bartosz Prokopowicz

Writers:

Bartosz Prokopowicz, Katarzyna Sarnowska

Stars:

Agnieszka Zulewska, Tomasz Schuchardt, Danuta Stenka

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Agnieszka Zulewska	...	Lena
Tomasz Schuchardt	...	Benek
Danuta Stenka	...	Dr. Sowa
Eryk Lubos	...	Panda
Anita Jancia	...	Grazniew
Anna Cieslak	...	Nurse
Miroslaw Baka	...	Dr. Ostrowski
Tomasz Sapryk	...	Dr. Antczak
Bartosz Porczyk	...	Dr. Danek
Robert Wabich	...	Dr. Pluta
Adam Woronowicz	...	Dr. Konrad
Zofia Pietrzykowska	...	Tosia
Sandra Staniszewska	...	Elizka
Anna Smolowik	...	Dr. Sowa's Assistant
Dorota Nowakowska	...	Nurse - Chemo

Storyline

Thirty year old Benek experiences a crisis mainly manifested by compulsive suicidal thoughts and dreams about death. Accidentally he meets a beautiful, magnetic and mouthy Lena. He is dazzled from the first moment and his admiration grows when Lena not only understands his suicidal preoccupation but shares a similar one. They embark on a crazy journey during which Benek realizes he is not the only man in Lena's life - in addition, the girl has cancer, and she is not attempting to treat it. Admiration mixes with fear - finally Benek promises to accompany her to the end...

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Plot Keywords:

cancer | chemo | 

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Taglines:

The first one is going towards death, the second one is coming back from it. An incredible meeting of two characters. For a short time - in life.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Poland

Language:

Polish

Release Date:

2 October 2015 (Poland)

Also Known As:

Chemo

Filming Locations:

Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmokracja, Vue Movie Distribution, HBO Europe

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Cancer vs. suicide--not a happy film

The Polish film Chemia was shown in the U.S. with the title Chemo (2015). It was co-written and directed by Bartosz Prokopowicz. The film stars Agnieszka Zulewska as Lena, a woman with breast cancer, and Tomasz Schuchardt as Benek, a physically healthy man obsessed with his own suicide.

When the two people met, the chemistry--while admittedly strange--is powerful. The rest of the film follows Lena and Benek as they interact with the world, with each other, and with the disease and suicide.

Agnieszka Zulewska must be the most beautiful woman in Poland. It's clear that director Prokopowicz can't take his eyes--or the camera-- off her. It unbalances the film a little, but it's truly amazing to see a skilled actor totally dominate a movie.

We saw this film at the excellent Little Theatre in Rochester, NY, as part of the High Falls Film Festival. HFFF is "Celebrating Women in Film." Since the director is a man, this film surely was chosen because of Agnieszka Zulewska's star performance. It will work well on a small screen. Try to find it and watch it--it's worth seeking out.