"Child is the father of the man" (Sigismund Freud)
What would you do having got through a horror of violence in childhood? How could you live and be able to love having been deprived of it in the youth, bitten and cruelly raised by the father. Is there still any sense in forgiveness? These are the questions that appeared in my mind whilst and after watching this incredible movie.
The movie "Pregi" tells a story of Wojciech (Michal Zebrowski) who was brought up by a religious man, pure outside, but precisely the opposite in his heart, cruel, a shockingly authoritative parent. His only way to bring up his son Wojciech is by belt and shouting pressing everything on him, even the sort of music to listen to or the way he should wash his teeth. After terrible excesses, Wojtek escapes from home not being able to stand this reality any longer.
As he grows up, he becomes a mirror of his father: selfish, demanding from all but not from himself, furious without any serious reason. Although he is aware of the fact that something is wrong with him, he cannot free himself from the pressure of the past, from the values that were rooted in his upbringing. However, nothing is lost forever. In the long run, the harm on his psyche is cured by ... Love.
The movie is wonderful in several aspects. First of all, it has a highly psychological content. The character of Wojciech made me reflect. Being pressed in childhood and being deprived of affection, he has a huge difficulties to show it to other people because he was not raised in affection. Escaping to loneliness is a sign that he has problems with his "ego." The film also proves Freud's words that i dared quote at the beginning. Yes, indeed, child IS the father of the man...
The cast of the movie are great. I especially loved the performance of Michal Zebrowski. He shines in this role: the mimics are incredible. Throughout the film you see that he has an unstable psyche, he hesitates and seeks for love. Sometimes, when love is reachable, he is afraid, escapes, then comes back and finally, he is able to say something to Tania, his girlfriend, the words that he would never dare say before. It is also significant to mention Krzysztof Zanussi. He is a real MAESTRO of psychological, ambitious movies. VERY GOOD!!!
All in all, the film Pregi is not only another single story of a man's fate, hurt in his childhood. It is, first and foremost, a wonderful lesson of life, of values, of LOVE! As a matter of fact, we all have something from Wojciech... 8/10! A psychological masterpiece that really deserves attention!
