Komornik

Went to see this at the Dublin International Film Festival this afternoon, & I was having my doubts for the first half an hour, but I must say, once I stuck it out, I really enjoyed it.

The film concerns a hard-nosed debt collector, Lucek, who mercilessly repossesses anything from difib machines from hospitals to a statue of the Virgin Mary, without remorse. But things invariably start to unravel for Lucek & an 'epiphany' turns him into a human being, despite everyone's doubts.

The film's turning point is heart-wrenching and the characters develop into rounded people, it just takes them a while! One area I had trouble with though was the soundtrack, which although was really good, didn't really suit the piece.

I go with the reviews by those who actually watched the film before presuming to rate it. The quality of the production in the first half hour suggests that the best is yet to come, so stick with it--rarely fair to prejudge the outcome, especially when, as suggested, top people have accepted to become a part of the production. I personally liked the hand-held camera effect, as it made it seem more of a film crew assigned to document a few days in the life of a universally despised representative of the state.

This is a very touching--and quite human--morality tale, with absolutely none of the cloying sentimentality that infuses the Hollywood versions of similar stories.

Among other things, it has made me aware of, and interested in Polish films. Rather like East European wines, I rarely think to taste there films. Perhaps I would like their wines as well...

I thought I may be a part of that audience, as I was born in that country (I have lived in the US since late '70). Sadly after 30 minutes it turned out that I definitely wasn't. The movie looks like it was made by about 3 people, and the only equipment they had was the camera and a mirror - not even a tripod (all hand-held camera). The money for equipment and crew must have been stolen, as it often happens in that reality. The characters were uninteresting, despicable, or both. The story went nowhere. There was absolutely nothing enticing about that movie in the first act. So why should I watch? You tell me. I ran away screaming from my TV and I am left to wonder how an industry that produces such turkeys begot cameramen who are sought after world wide and shoot the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. (Pirates Trilogy, Spielberg movies for the past 15 years, Blackhawk Down - the list is very long and glorious).

... but in this case, it also needs this time. To establish the main character. A debt collector. Although Will Ferrell played a similar role to this one in a recent movie (Stranger than fiction), this movie is a drama not a comedy. But that doesn't take anything away from it or makes this less of a good movie.

The acting is really great and once the situation is established the main character has more problems to face than he would like to. To say more would be spoiling the movie for you. I think this is a little known gem, that should be seen by many people. It takes the boring situation of a job (see also other movies I reviewed) but spins it ... and that's why movies are made (emphasis lying on movies, not documentaries)!