This is must see viewing as a masterpiece of the political prisoner or torture film genre. Or for those curious about recent Eastern European history. It is also among the top films made by Poland, which turned more high quality cinema than any other country from the former Eastern block.
As the title implies, what we see here is a (forced) confession in Stalinist Poland. After a one-night stand with a military officer, a cabaret singer is imprisoned by the secret police, without ever being informed of her alleged crime. For the next five years, she is subjected to harrowing torture and harassment, which she doggedly withstands in a struggle to maintain her dignity and sanity.
The film was executive produced by Polish living legend A. Wajda, and produced through the sate-run film studio during a period of relative liberalism in Poland. But, then came martial law after the Solidarity Movement gained worldwide attention.
Thus, upon its completion in 1982, "Interrogation" was banned by the Polish government for being "inflammatory and dangerous". Years later, the director managed to smuggle a copy of his film out of the country. It soon-after opened at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, garnering a Best Actress Award for Kristina Janda for her stunning performance. Ms. Janda is a fixture in Polish films since the late 70s to the late 90s. She can be seen in most politically oriented Polish films of the 80s.
An another interesting feature is seeing A. Holland in a major acting role. She went on to become one of the top female directors in all of Europe (and North America) in the 90s, with high profile films in French, German and English.
This film is a gem, and it is available world wide in video. In the US and in Brazil, the film is available at many mainstream stores I've visited in the foreign section. You'll recognize it by the label across its cover stating- BANNED FOR EIGHT YEARS. As commercial as this might first appear (a la "banned in Boston!), after you see the film, you will understand why it would be have banned at all cost by any totalitarian regime. The film is a shocker!
As the title implies, what we see here is a (forced) confession in Stalinist Poland. After a one-night stand with a military officer, a cabaret singer is imprisoned by the secret police, without ever being informed of her alleged crime. For the next five years, she is subjected to harrowing torture and harassment, which she doggedly withstands in a struggle to maintain her dignity and sanity.
The film was executive produced by Polish living legend A. Wajda, and produced through the sate-run film studio during a period of relative liberalism in Poland. But, then came martial law after the Solidarity Movement gained worldwide attention.
Thus, upon its completion in 1982, "Interrogation" was banned by the Polish government for being "inflammatory and dangerous". Years later, the director managed to smuggle a copy of his film out of the country. It soon-after opened at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival, garnering a Best Actress Award for Kristina Janda for her stunning performance. Ms. Janda is a fixture in Polish films since the late 70s to the late 90s. She can be seen in most politically oriented Polish films of the 80s.
An another interesting feature is seeing A. Holland in a major acting role. She went on to become one of the top female directors in all of Europe (and North America) in the 90s, with high profile films in French, German and English.
This film is a gem, and it is available world wide in video. In the US and in Brazil, the film is available at many mainstream stores I've visited in the foreign section. You'll recognize it by the label across its cover stating- BANNED FOR EIGHT YEARS. As commercial as this might first appear (a la "banned in Boston!), after you see the film, you will understand why it would be have banned at all cost by any totalitarian regime. The film is a shocker!