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The Conductor

Original title: Dyrygent
  • 1980
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
741
YOUR RATING
The Conductor (1980)
DramaMusic

A violinist in a provincial Polish orchestra, whose husband is the director of the ensemble, on a visit to the U.S., ties up with the world-renowned symphony conductor. As it turns out, he w... Read allA violinist in a provincial Polish orchestra, whose husband is the director of the ensemble, on a visit to the U.S., ties up with the world-renowned symphony conductor. As it turns out, he was once in love with the violinist's mother. The conductor, a slightly unstable hypochondr... Read allA violinist in a provincial Polish orchestra, whose husband is the director of the ensemble, on a visit to the U.S., ties up with the world-renowned symphony conductor. As it turns out, he was once in love with the violinist's mother. The conductor, a slightly unstable hypochondriac, returns to Poland to lead the provincial orchestra. He also tries to revive an old lo... Read all

  • Director
    • Andrzej Wajda
  • Writer
    • Andrzej Kijowski
  • Stars
    • John Gielgud
    • Krystyna Janda
    • Andrzej Seweryn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    741
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andrzej Wajda
    • Writer
      • Andrzej Kijowski
    • Stars
      • John Gielgud
      • Krystyna Janda
      • Andrzej Seweryn
    • 2User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos56

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    Top cast19

    Edit
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • John Lasocki
    Krystyna Janda
    Krystyna Janda
    • Marta
    Andrzej Seweryn
    Andrzej Seweryn
    • Adam Pietrzyk
    Jan Ciecierski
    Jan Ciecierski
    • Marta's Father
    Maria Seweryn
    Maria Seweryn
    • Marysia
    Józef Fryzlewicz
    Józef Fryzlewicz
    • Governor
    Janusz Gajos
    Janusz Gajos
    • High Official
    Mary Ann Krasinski
    • Marta's Friend
    Anna Lopatowska
    • Anna
    Mavis Walker
    • Lilian
    Tadeusz Czechowski
    Tadeusz Czechowski
    • Tadzio
    Marek Dabrowski
    • Official
    Stanislaw Górka
    • Bass Player
    Jerzy Kleyn
    Elzbieta Strzalkowska
    Jerzy Szmidt
    Wojciech Wysocki
    Wojciech Wysocki
    • Kwiatkowski
    Stanislaw Zatloka
    Stanislaw Zatloka
    • Rysio
    • Director
      • Andrzej Wajda
    • Writer
      • Andrzej Kijowski
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    6.9741
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    Featured reviews

    10ilovesaturdays

    Exploration of a musician's psyche

    On a superficial level, the movie deals with the perennial battle of new versus old, both in love life as well as professional life. But deep down, the movie is an attempt to differentiate between career & vocation. Everyone's born with some talent. It's what we do with that talent that makes all the difference. I found myself pondering on these extremely important issues upon watching the film. It takes an artistic genius like Andrzej Wajda to understand the world of another artist, a musician in this case. That said, some people may actually find the movie a bit dull and slow. But that's exactly the point, it's not everyone's cup of tea! Needless to say that the music is excellent. A great movie for all music lovers & by extension for all the artists out there! Highly recommended!
    Kirpianuscus

    a return in fatherland

    At the first sight, the presence of Sir John Gielgud in cast and the name of Andrzej Wajda are enough for be interested by this film.

    But the performances of Krystyna Janda and Andrzej Seweryn, not ignoring the discreet but profound useful in economy of film work of Jan Ciecerski are an obvious good point . Like the remind of Kieslowski s Dekalog episodes.

    A venerable , well known conductor, Polish origin, American career, returns to his motherland. A young violonist and her husband, director of provincial Polish ensamble are , in a form, the host of old man. His return has different causes and the final offers some clues about this. But the basic virtues are two- the music and the wise exploration of vocation, vulnerabilities, reconquest of past time, refuge from media pressure and manager, a short romance and the competition pressure for young director who seems his career under huge risk , like the personal life.

    A film offering beautiful dose of melancholia and few sketches of answers about matters things.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman was asked to name eleven movies he had liked the most, he mentioned this movie as one of his all-time favorites.
    • Quotes

      Adam Pietrzyk: [Rehearsing Beethoven's 5th Symphony with his orchestra] No, listen... It's like this - fate knocks at the door, it opens... And what does the conductor do? The conductor walks out because he's had enough. Some parts are still not right. It's not Beethoven. It must have drive, vitality! In this situation it's better to play it like a match: men against women.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Searching for Ingmar Bergman (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Symphony No. 5
      Music by Ludwig van Beethoven

      Conducted by Stanislaw Wislocki

      Performed by Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia w Katowicach

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 1980 (Poland)
    • Country of origin
      • Poland
    • Languages
      • Polish
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dirigent
    • Filming locations
      • Radom, Mazowieckie, Poland
    • Production companies
      • Zespól Filmowy "X"
      • Polish Corporation for Film Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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