Justice

A particularly brutal bank robbery takes place in Warsaw. So bad that the planned bank merger in the now democratic Poland of 1995 could be at risk. A long-retired police officer from the former secret police named Tadeusz Gadacz (Olaf LUBASZENKO) is suddenly reactivated. His ultra-brutal methods from his communist past could now be useful again. Gadacz is to support the young inspector Aleksandra Janicka (Wiktoria GORODECKA) in her investigations. It quickly becomes clear that the young Kacper Surmiak (Jedrzej HYCNAR) and his two friends Marek (Stanislaw LINOWSKI) and Bartek (Lukasz SZCZEPANOWSKI) could have something to do with the bloody robbery. But in Poland after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a policeman like Gadacz can no longer torture the truth out of them...

The global streaming provider NETFLIX has added a very exciting crime film by Michel GAZDA to its program. It tells very emphatically about the trials and tribulations of the post-reunification period in the former communist Poland. In terms of structure, it is of course very reminiscent of the Spanish crime classic LA ISLA MINIMA from 2014, but is so haunting, moving and unique that watching this heist movie in the guise of a dark social portrait is definitely worth it! The Polish film industry has repeatedly proven in recent years what great genre stories can be discovered there.

Surprisingly well written dialogues, substantly inspired by "Psy", in this film which is a creative interpretation of a real-life bank robbery during the political changes in Poland in the 90s.

You will find many reviews criticising the fakeness of the case, but if you approach Napad/Justice the way the filmmakers want you will get a really entertaining police thriller with a body count like in the good Midsomer Murders, a grim old secret communist policeman in the lead, suspense that comes out of absolutely nowhere, a not particularly sensible investigation, but for all that very pleasantly acted (even the child actors!), with really good dialogue and great sets and costumes (I give a seal of approval as someone who remembers the 90s from my childhood and teenage years).

Basically, it was clearly an attempt to create a typical American thriller from a streaming service, only set in Polish early capitalism reality. And in this category I have no hesitation in recommending it.

It's a decent crime/thriller filmed in a minimalistic style, focusing on human emotions and expressions rather than on special effects and fast-paced action. If you like that type of movie, it's worthwhile to watch. The acting is excellent, especially the main cop. Tadeusz Gadacz is portrayed as a highly-skilled investigator with a murky past, and the plot weaves in political elements, such as the privatization of large banks, adding layers of tension. This movie truly shines if you are Polish, or maybe you understand Poland's political and social context in the 90s, where the film is set, and subtle jokes or references are made. That's how you'd make most of this movie, I'd say. Then it's 8/10 for sure.

The prologue explains that the movie is partially based on factual events, which show throughout the film.

A Polish crime investigation thriller caught my interest with its intriguing plot. I was expecting an edge-of-the-seat thriller, but it turned out to be quite laid-back.

The movie, partially based on a true story, centers around a bank robbery where three employees and a security guard were gunned down in cold blood. An ex-police officer is given a chance to reclaim his former life by solving the case within a stipulated time.

The movie has a promising start with the crime scene and the formation of an investigation team, setting expectations for a thrilling experience. However, it introduces suspects early on, leaving no room for guessing, as the culprit becomes evident almost immediately, killing much of the suspense. The pace of the movie is slow, and with no major revelations, it becomes tiresome to watch.

Olaf Lubaszenko, as the investigating officer, fits the role perfectly, delivering a subtle performance that shines throughout. He is ably supported by Wiktoria Gorodecka, while Jedrzej Hycnar, as the prime suspect, steals the spotlight and showcases a range of emotions, proving his acting mettle.

The cinematography is top-notch, capturing the essence of the '90s setting convincingly. While it's understandable that the movie aims to stay true to real-life events, it lacks the dramatic spice needed for a captivating watch. This is where the movie fails to deliver. With bloodshed and gory scenes, it's definitely not one for the kids.

If you plan to skip this, you're not missing much. An investigation movie should have arcs of thrill, suspense, and twists, and this one falters in all these areas.

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This is a very fine police drama from Poland, and it reminds me greatly of the Icelandic police drama series Trapped and Entrapped which also were extremely successful for Netflix. No pretty people, bleak surroundings, people who have problems in relationships due to their circumstances and cops who know how bad the gutter is because they are only a few steps removed from it themselves.

The current IMDB rating as I write this for the film is 6.3. That is a travesty. It may be that the writers gave away a bit to much to early, but it still was a riveting movie that one will watch to a suspenseful conclusion. Sure it is not some super sci-fi blockbuster but overall it is well done film making.

I know the setting for the movie is supposed to be in the past, I am guessing the early 2000's, but I sure hope Poland today is not as bleak as what we view in the movie.