Cicha noc

The Polish film Cicha noc (2017) was shown in the U.S. with the translated title Silent Night. It was written and directed by Piotr Domalewski.

The movie takes place in a single day--Christmas Eve in a rural Polish region. Dawid Ogrodnik portrays Adam, a young man returning from Holland to have Christmas with his family and his pregnant fiancee, Asia. During the entire film, Adam is talking to Asia on the telephone, promising to be with her soon. This in itself lends an edginess to to the movie. Ogrodnik is a good actor, and does well in his role as protagonist.

Adam's family is almost completely dysfunctional. During the day we witness alcoholism, spouse abuse, and violence. Then things get worse.

The opening and closing scenes both show us Adam riding a bus--to home and from home. The plot is what happens in between those bus rides.

The acting is excellent throughout--especially by Tomasz Zietek, who portrays Adam's younger brother Pawel; Agnieszka Suchora who plays Teresa, Adam's mother; and Arkadiusz Jakubik, Adam's father.

I have yet to see a Polish narrative film that wasn't grim. Silent Night is no exception. It's a very powerful movie, with a solid IMDb rating of 7.2. I think it's even better than that. However, I don't think there was even one frame in the film that would bring laughter. We saw the movie on the large screen at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It was shown as part of the outstanding Rochester Polish Film Festival. It will work well on the small screen as well.

Fair warning: This isn't a movie for a first date, and it certainly won't replace Charlie Brown's Christmas.

"Poland shown in this movie is an ugly, dreary, dirty place, full of aggressive primitives, which gives no life prospects. Poles in "Silent Night" are depicted as complex, primitive (publicly disparaging about copulation), aggressive, greedy (peeing in public, because they do not want to spend a few zlotys on the toilet at a gas station), drunk (in drunken state walking through like zombies, public roads, eternally drinking vodka ), monsters torturing animals and wives, (the main hero rents an expensive car and convinces his family that this is his car), thieves, drunks. Several times the heroes of the film discuss the fact that Polish women are wild" Jan Bodakowski

The Christmas depicted in this film has something truly polish in it. I think it can be only understood by the East-Europeans, especially living in small communities. Emigrants who are living in between two countries - none of which is their true home. Broken families, alcohol addiction, tough siblings relations. The story where everyone has something to prove but yet, no one really can. Definitely worth watching, considering the fact that the film has few surprises as the story goes.

@deloudelouvain Who did not grow up in Poland will never truly understand and feel this movie. Especially an American person who has no idea how it feels to be a work immigrant in another country when people treat you as a 2nd grade person, how it feels to leave your family behind or how it feels for families to be alone.

Cicha noc paints a poignant and intimate portrait of family dynamics. The film follows a man named Adam, who returns home for the holidays after a long time away. What unfolds is a mix of warmth and tension, as old wounds and unresolved issues come to the surface during what's supposed to be a festive time. What I really loved about the film was its ability to blend humor with heartache. It captures those awkward family moments we all can relate to, whether it's the probing questions from relatives or the unspoken rivalries that simmer just below the surface. The cinematography is beautifully done, with cozy, atmospheric shots that make you feel right in the middle of this family's Christmas gathering. The performances are top-notch, especially from the lead actor, who brings a raw honesty to his role. You can feel his struggle, and it resonated with me on many levels. It's a film that embraces the bittersweet nature of family life, reminding us that while family can be a source of love and support, it also comes with its fair share of baggage.

It is a heartfelt exploration of the complexities of family gatherings. Good for a cozy night in when you want something that will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even shed a tear.