director Tadeusz Chmielewski
screenplay (based on the novel of the same title by Stefan Żeromski) Halina Chmielewska, Tadeusz Chmielewski
director of photography Jerzy Stawicki
music Jerzy Matuszkiewicz
with Małgorzata Pieczyńska, Olgierd Łukaszewicz, Franciszek Pieczka, Maria Homerska, Henryk Bista, Henryk Machalica, Jerzy Turek, Wojciech Wysocki
awards
Main Award, Silver Lions for Best Director and Individual Prize, Bronze Lions for the music at the 12th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia, 1987
[MONOLOGUE FROM THE FILM]
Doctor: A wounded man… So it’s a rebel again. You must be mad. You want me to be sent to Siberia because of another madman lunging with a scythe at an empire! No, I’m the only doctor in this town. I have a duty to the citizens! I may be needed any time!
MACIEJ PAWLICKI, WE HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL [MYŚMY WSZYSTKO ZAPOMNIELI], ‘FILM’, 1987, NO. 10
Chmielewski has been surprisingly successful in translating to film all the values of Żeromski’s prose and adapting them to the needs and mentality of the contemporary audience. Using his own means of expression, he has obtained the same emotional intensity. Some scenes do bring a lump to your throat. (…) Some become really shocking only when viewed on screen. The pathos of glory and defeat alternates with bitter and tragic remorse.
history periods
