Najmro

As a Pole raised abroad, it's completely understandable to me when people judge post-soviet filmmaking on it's dissimilarities to western media, but this movie recreates an iconic time in Polish history in it's full truth. The set design and character costumes are beautiful reproductions of Soviet Poland, and the movies subtle references to the time period through architecture, interiors, props, language and even the use of fonts make the movie a genuine treat to watch.

Najmro is a cunning crime/heist film that utilises techniques from the 1980's it portrays in its production in genius ways - the use of lighting in all scenes, the convoluted and minimal dialogue and the films iconic soundtrack are a treat to watch and I personally feel sorry for all non-poles unable to enjoy it in its true original.

For a foreigner, watching a movie about Poland's well-known escape artist in the dying days of communist Poland is a curiosity.

But beyond this, it's an average movie with the obligatory car chase, pursuing detectives and love story.

A funny movie, well directed and very good actors. The story doesn't follow strictly the real events, but you must appreciate the mood which is present.

Or one armed jack, the polish ''gjest baardsen'' edition of the true crime world. Yes and gjest baardsen was the norwegian edition and together with ole hoiland the breakout kings in my countrys crime world, and they are both filmatized, in black and white unfortunately, but the films are fab's and highly recommended.

This polish glorification of a petty crime(measured in 2022 crime world) culprit has been made very well on the time stamp, its an action filled nonstop action made pretty hollywoodlic style, with split screens and ultra slow motion on the most critical parts, if you like old car models from the 80's this is a gold chest, theyve made a pretty good soundtrack, but the acting is merely what you expect outta a film this kind.

Its never boring, the comedy inbetween, and the use of irony towards the police force may make the poles polish the floor from laughter cramps, and gave me a smile here and there. So if you want some true crime stories from behind the iron curtain, or the warsawpact era, its a recommend, the grumpy old man knows that 2 mill zloty aint that lot of money, but its worth a watch.

The Getaway King/ Najmro is a stylish, fast-moving comic crime-caper that is based on a true story and set in '80s Poland. Directed by Mateusz Rakowicz, and written by Rakowicz and Lukasz M. Maciejewski, The Getaway King positively fizzes and sparkles like a freshly corked bottle of champagne! There is a really strong sense of time and place - Pewex, the psychotic Pruszkow mob - and some cracking performances. Dawid Ogrodnik as Zdzislaw 'Najmro' Najmrodzki, a slick criminal who escaped from police custody no less than 29 times - is roguish charm itself, and the ever- excellent Robert Wieckiewicz plays the grizzled, world- weary cop hell-bent on hunting down Najmro with aplomb. A special mention should also be made of Dorota Kolak's splendid turn as Najmro's irascible mother. All in all, The Getaway King is a smashing film and well-worth checking out.