Movie spotlight
Polonaise
In the TV film Polonaise, traffic jams have grown into a phenomenon in which traffic jam call girls, hairdressers and photographers enliven the endless delays. The film follows a number of people in a jam on the A5. The central character is a Pole in an expensive Saab Convertible, who is wanted by the police. A red Panda carries the heavily pregnant Hilde and her cynical sister. Hilde is worried because she has not seen her friend anymore after a quarrel. In an old Saab, a young couple is bickering. She is a `yuppie cunt' who stakes her marriage for a parking licence and is tired of her husband smoking dope. Charlie the music promoter is driving his son's car. He likes traffic jams, because they allow him to settle his deals undisturbed and meet his secret love, the traffic jam call girl Nena. While the characters are confronted with each other and themselves more and more, tension rises to a peak. A radio pirate connects the story lines with his chatter.
Insights
Plot Summary
Set in 18th-century Poland, the film follows the complex relationships and political machinations within the Polish nobility. It centers on the passionate and tumultuous love affair between Countess Elżbieta and Prince Radziwiłł, against the backdrop of a nation grappling with internal strife and external pressures. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the fate of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Critical Reception
The film received mixed to positive reviews, with many praising its visual splendor and historical ambition, while some critics found its pacing and narrative focus to be uneven. It was recognized for its attempt to capture a significant period in Polish history.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its lavish costumes and set design, vividly recreating the era.
Noted for strong performances, particularly from the lead actors.
Some reviewers found the historical drama to be overly long and melodramatic.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for 'Polonaise (2002)' is not readily available in public databases.
Fun Fact
The film was Jerzy Kawalerowicz's final directorial work before his passing in 2007.
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