Basia and Krystyna, are trying to smuggle clothes, perfumes and other things purchased abroad through the border back to Poland during communist period. They are accompanied by Basia's son Piotrek, infatuated with Krystyna. At the beginning everything appears to go smooth. Suddenly, however, the custom officer Roman (played by brilliant Zdzisław Maklakiewicz) stops pretending being fooled and demands body search which has to be carried out by next shift. Basia tries to aid the inconvenience by calling her husband Jerzy. She also tries to psychologically abuse Roman. Meanwhile Krystyna tries to bribe other younger customs officer (Łukasz) by sleeping with him on a meadow. They make out (film contains some nudity) but Łukasz says he knows why she gave herself to him. Young Piotrek is shocked to observe that scene. At the end Jerzy, an important figure in communist party, appears, threatens and later begs Roman to allow everybody to go through border. When in the end Roman agrees, heart-broken Piotrek torches the car with smuggled goods, burning everything.
An interesting film about the times when getting stuff from outside communist block was very difficult. It depicts on one hand greediness and wearing fake masks by the people trying to smuggle goodies from Western Europe to Poland, and absurd of the communist system on the other (the pecking order and who has greater power over who; also preventing from getting purchases from abroad). As being born in 1983, not all of the events were perfectly understandable to me. Especially why Jerzy tried to convince Roman. I found explanation that Basia's attempt to smuggle would put a bad mark on Jerzy's carrier. This is quite surprising to me as I would think of Jerzy as of someone who could destroy Roman effortlessly just by using his position. Ironically, the viewer may be tricked into thinking that Roman is a negative character whereas he is just carrying out his job. The rest of the story is however quite straightforward. The other aspect worth mentioning is a problem of young idealised love, which can be shattered when discovered that many females will use their body as treats to their advantage. In summary worth watching although not very dynamic movie. People who know that times better, may rate it one star more.
Ps. The cuckoo scene is worth 10/10 and actually is very connected to the issues displayed in this film.
An interesting film about the times when getting stuff from outside communist block was very difficult. It depicts on one hand greediness and wearing fake masks by the people trying to smuggle goodies from Western Europe to Poland, and absurd of the communist system on the other (the pecking order and who has greater power over who; also preventing from getting purchases from abroad). As being born in 1983, not all of the events were perfectly understandable to me. Especially why Jerzy tried to convince Roman. I found explanation that Basia's attempt to smuggle would put a bad mark on Jerzy's carrier. This is quite surprising to me as I would think of Jerzy as of someone who could destroy Roman effortlessly just by using his position. Ironically, the viewer may be tricked into thinking that Roman is a negative character whereas he is just carrying out his job. The rest of the story is however quite straightforward. The other aspect worth mentioning is a problem of young idealised love, which can be shattered when discovered that many females will use their body as treats to their advantage. In summary worth watching although not very dynamic movie. People who know that times better, may rate it one star more.
Ps. The cuckoo scene is worth 10/10 and actually is very connected to the issues displayed in this film.
