mizb Reviews

Pogranicze w ogniu (1991–1992)

Two former school friends became enemies

[9/10 · 1 October 2006]

November 1918, Germany looses the world war. The independent Poland arises but what will be the Polish-German border? Will Germany approve the existence of the new state? Two former school friends (Cezary and Franz) from Poznan become army intelligence officers: Cezary in Poland, Franz in Germany. They operate secret operations against each other and finally even they meet each other in conspiracy. The period 1918-1939 is reported, when both secret services penetrated the enemy land. Everything is based on real facts showing a long and insistent struggle of both countries for getting possible knowledge about the opposite army.

Translation of the title: "The Burning Border"

'Ctyri vrazdy stací, drahousku' (1971)

Czech parody of Humphrey Bogart movies

[10/10 · 1 October 2006]

A very, very, very funny comedy. Some gags can be understood only by people knowing Czech language (like speeches of the toothless gang boss). One of my favorite comedies. Some actors played very good parts in the "Adventures of brave soldier Svejk": Police commander - policeman Brettschneider, lieutenant Dub Mr. Gogo - Palivec, sergeant Vanek etc. The final combat zone in the garage is also very fine. In that movie there are many shoots and murders but even the youngest children liked it. The main plot is the fight of two rival gangs (one from "Michigo", another from "San Bonigo") for a check and a quiet school teacher is found to be a pervert serial murder.

Blisko, coraz blizej (1983–1987)

historical TV series

[8/10 · 27 September 2006]

The title can be translated as "Close, closer and closer". A very long series of 1 hour TV movies (about 30 parts) reporting the live of an Upper Silesian family of Pasternik, during stormy years 1866 - 1945 (unification of German Empire, two world wars, Polish uprisings in Upper Silesia). The main theme is common life of Poles and Germans in Upper Silesia and changes of national feelings within the family. The content describes life of several generations of the said family and their various fates (migrations to France of a POW in the French war 1870), national conflicts within the family during Polish uprisings 1919-1921, events during Nazi era (1933-1945). For example, one brother felt to be a German, another one to be Polish.

Czterej pancerni i pies (1966– )

glorification of Soviet armored forces

[4/10 · 27 September 2006]

This film was made in the late 1960's, when the Soviet land troops (a so called "Warsaw Pact") was threatening a big part of the world. The main tune was to emphasize a Polish-Russian friendship during the 2nd world war. It was not true as Russians invaded Poland in 1939 together with Hitler and committed even worse war crimes than Germans.

The purpose of the film was to attract young boys from Polish villages to join the army, especially armored units. It was very funny, but in each episode the food and common meals play a significant role (mainly canned food made in USA and supplied for the Red Army). As under communist yoke the food supply in Poland was very poor, scenes of eating full cans of meat might have attracted young boys to join the army.

Czarne chmury (1973– )

a spy story from the 17th century

[8/10 · 27 September 2006]

The film shows reality of life of Polish peer and gentry in the 2nd half of 17th century. But the main tune is a political and secret fight against the emerging new and dangerous power in Europe: Hohenzollern Prussia. The Kingdom of Poland tried to recover full sovereign rights upon the East Prussia. The Great Marshall of Poland, Jan Sobieski (later the King Jan 3 famous of Vienna battle) plans to use mutinies of Prussian knights and citizens to incorporate East Prussia to Poland. But there are opponents paid by Prussian secret agents and finally the Turkish invasion makes the double front struggle impossible. The unsolved problem of East Prussia has got the reason for many wars in 18th to 20th centuries (including the 2nd world war). Even today, Russian presence at Baltic coast (a so called "Kaliningrad district") might cause potential conflicts in the future Europe. The book was written by Ryszard Pietruski, who was born in Pomerania and knew those problems very well. Pietruski was an actor and played the black-bearded fellow of colonel Dowgird.

Seventeen Moments of Spring (1973)

a very good spy story

[9/10 · 27 September 2006]

Made in black-white as most TV receivers in Soviet block in the 1970's were black and white.

The story covers last weeks of existence of Hitler's Reich and some attempts of SS generals to conclude a separate armistice with USA and UK. The SS colonel Stirlitz is a Russian spy trying to prevent it. Some front combat scenes are shown as intermezzos. Although the war was finished more than 60 years ago, we still do not know all its details and secrets. Maybe, some German leaders tried to break the coalition between Anglo-Saxon powers and Russia. But the range of Soviet infiltration of central entities of 3rd Reich (like RSHA, General Staff or NSDAP Chancellory) has not been fully explained so far.

Anyway, this is a very interesting film to watch.

Knights of the Teutonic Order (1960)

a story from medieval Europe

[10/10 · 27 September 2006]

The movie is based on a Sienkiewicz's novel written in 1910 (500th anniversary of Tannenberg battle) and during the time of top German power in Europe. The content describes the life of medieval Polish gentry on the background of historical events (conflicts between the German Teutonic Orden and Kingdoms of Poland and Lithuania). Shows, how crude and cruel the life was that time. The movie has been made about 1960 on order of communist and para-nationalist propaganda to illustrate the role of alliance between Poles and "eastern nations" in stopping the German expansionism (a cold war ran that time, Poland had no diplomatic links with FR of Germany, which was putting Poland's western borders into questioning). The final Tannenberg battle scene is probably the best one battle movie in the history of cinematography. However, some propaganda accents have been put, i.e. German knights shooting "Heil!" at the beginning of the battle. The main tune of the film is to present Poles as a fit and sound nation.

Stawka wieksza niz zycie (1968– )

a "red James Bond"

[8/10 · 27 September 2006]

This movie has been made during communist regime in Poland and therefore showed Poles as allies of Stalinist Russia. It was not true. The independent Poland performed its own secret secret operations against 3rd Reich and the Stalinist Russia did the same but not in alliance. Many best Polish stars have played, shootings were very realistic. The film was very popular in Poland, in the USSR and in... Denmark. In some cases Germans have been shown as stupid slaughters. For example, second lieutenant (Oberleutnant) Kloss has been awarded by Iron Cross by Hitler (shown from the back, however) for discovering a plot against main Nazi leaders. Wilhelm Canaris is also shown (a part of face only). The role of a SS officer Brunner (Emil Karewicz) is a masterwork.