Nowak (Irons), a Polish contractor, leads a group of workmen to London so they can provide cheap labor for a government official based there. Nowak must manage the project and the men as they encounter the temptations of the West and...
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Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 3 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jeremy Irons | ... |
Nowak
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| Eugene Lipinski | ... |
Banaszak
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| Jiri Stanislav | ... |
Wolski
(as Jirí Stanislav)
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Eugeniusz Haczkiewicz | ... |
Kudaj
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Edward Arthur | ... |
Immigration Officer
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Denis Holmes | ... |
Neighbor
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| Renu Setna | ... |
Junk Shop Owner
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| David Calder | ... |
Supermarket Manager
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Judy Gridley | ... |
Supermarket Supervisor
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Claire Toeman | ... |
Supermarket Cashier
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Catherine Harding | ... |
Lady Shoplifter
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Jill Johnson | ... |
Haughty Supermarket Customer
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David Squire | ... |
Supermarket Assistant
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| Michael Sarne | ... |
Builders' Merchant
(as Mike Sarne)
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| Lucy Hornak | ... |
Wrangler Shop Assistant
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Robyn Mandell | ... |
Wrangler Shop Assistant
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| Ann Tirard | ... |
Lady in Telephone Box
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Christopher Logue | ... |
Workman
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Hugh Harper | ... |
Newspaper Boy
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| Julia Chambers | ... |
Chemist's Assistant
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Fred Lee Own | ... |
Chinese Man
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| Kenny Ireland | ... |
Timber Man
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| Trevor Cooper | ... |
Hire Shop Man
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Iain Ormsby-Knox | ... |
Hire Shop Man
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| David Gant | ... |
Aquascutum Assistant
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| Jenifer Landor | ... |
Aquascutum Shoplifter
(as Jennifer Landor)
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| Jenny Seagrove | ... |
Anna
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| Ian McCulloch | ... |
Boss Lookalike
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Laura Frances Hart | ... |
His Woman
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Dorota Zieciowska | ... |
Lot Airline Girl
(as Dorota Zieciowska)
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| Jerzy Skolimowski | ... |
Boss (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Jerzy Skolimowski | ||
Written by
| Jerzy Skolimowski | ... | (original screenplay) |
Produced by
| Michael Guest | ... | associate producer |
| Mark Shivas | ... | producer |
| Jerzy Skolimowski | ... | producer |
| Michael White | ... | producer |
Music by
| Stanley Myers | ||
Cinematography by
| Tony Pierce-Roberts | ... | (as Tony Pierce Roberts) |
Editing by
| Barrie Vince | ||
Editorial Department
| Michael Connell | ... | assistant editor |
| Jacques Leroide | ... | assistant editor |
| Andy Stears | ... | assistant editor (as Andrew Stears) |
Casting By
| Debbie McWilliams | ||
Production Design by
| Tony Woollard | ||
Costume Design by
| Jane Robinson | ||
Makeup Department
| Marsha Lewis | ... | hair stylist |
| Sheila Thomas | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Peter Cotton | ... | first assistant director |
| Nick Daubeny | ... | second assistant director (as Nicholas Daubeny) |
| Rod Lomax | ... | third assistant director |
Art Department
| Roma Aplin | ... | production buyer |
| Brian Gamby | ... | property master |
| Bill Simpson | ... | construction manager |
| Peter Young | ... | assistant art director |
Sound Department
| Alan Bell | ... | dubbing editor |
| Richard King | ... | dubbing mixer |
| David Stephenson | ... | sound mixer |
| Mike Tucker | ... | boom operator |
Special Effects by
| Roy Whybrow | ... | special effects supervisor |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Barry Brown | ... | camera focus |
| Murray Close | ... | still photographer (as Murray Tulip Close) |
| David Farrell | ... | still photographer |
| Laurie Shane | ... | gaffer |
| Jimmy Stilwell | ... | camera operator |
| John Clarke | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Cedric James | ... | focus puller: second camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Masada Wilmot | ... | wardrobe mistress |
Location Management
| Rufus Andrews | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Hans Zimmer | ... | composer: electronic music |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pat Rambaut | ... | continuity |
| Danuta Stok | ... | script assistant |
| Witold Stok | ... | script assistant |
| Boleslaw Sulik | ... | script assistant |
| Barrie Vince | ... | script assistant |
Additional Crew
| Michael Brent | ... | production accountant |
| Allen Burry | ... | publicist |
| Lorraine Fennell | ... | production assistant |
| Nikolas Korda | ... | runner (as Nicholas Korda) |
| Richard Morrison | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Michael White Productions (presents)
- Channel Four (in association with)
Distributors
- Miracle Films (1982) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Universal Classics (1982) (United States) (theatrical)
- Hoyts Distribution (1982) (Australia) (theatrical)
- MK2 Diffusion (1983) (France) (theatrical)
- BIM Distribuzione (1984) (Italy) (theatrical)
- MCA Videocassette (1983) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
- Star Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
- Braveworld (1991) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Indies Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Universal Home Video (2002) (United States) (VHS)
- Films sans Frontières (2003) (France) (DVD)
- Arcadia Digital (2005) (Cyprus) (DVD) (tv)
- Trinity Home Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Película (1984) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Panamerican Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- PolyGram Video (1997) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2023) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Lee Electric Lighting (lighting equipement)
- Joe Dunton Cameras (camera equipment provided by)
- World Wide Sound (sound re-recording)
- Aquascutum of London (the producers would like to thank)
- National Film Development Fund (NFDF) (developed with the assistance of)
- Universal City Studios (VHS package design)
- Visual Icon (exclusive clip and still licensing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Nowak (Irons), a Polish contractor, leads a group of workmen to London so they can provide cheap labor for a government official based there. Nowak must manage the project and the men as they encounter the temptations of the West and loneliness and separation from their families. Nowak is the only one of the group who speaks English, and he uses this as a tool over his team. When the unrest in Poland leads to a military takeover, Nowak is faced with a much more difficult situation than he expected.
Written by Dan Hartung |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Skolimowski's Kensington house in West London was in real life undergoing renovation at the time the film was made. (Moonligthing, 1982) See more » |
| Goofs | When one of the workers paints the door frame on the outside of the building and clears away the electrical wire, part of the lintel is already painted white. Later, when Banaszak climbs up the ladder, the lintel has not yet been painted. Then, in the close-up in which he gets the electric shock, a good part of the lintel is painted white again, and in the next shot, when he falls off the ladder, only a tiny part is painted white again. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Best Films of 1982 (1983). See more » |
| Quotes |
Nowak:
I can speak their language, this is why the boss chose for me for the job. But I don't know what they really mean. See more » |