On one level this is a superior rogue cop thriller, very much in the film noir tradition. The direction is taut. The performances are strong. And it's intriguing from start to finish. But Operation Hyacinth is also a tense and nuanced study of homophobia and the inevitable hypocrisy that goes with it. It is specifically about Poland in the 1980s, but there are almost identical stories of police persecution and conspiracy in many other places - the US and Australia to name just two, around the same time. (The recent Australian TV series, Deep Water, covers much the same territory.). What elevates Hyacinth is the way it explores the twin moral dilemmas of Robert, an aspiring secret service officer who is challenged by corruption and by his own sexuality. It's several cuts above most gay-themed movies. Recommended.
25 Reviews
Excellent character-based drama
laduqesa28 November 2021
I remember meeting some Polish guys in London by chance in the very early 70s. I was astonished and asked them how they had got out. They laughed and told me that Poland had liberal policies for allowing tourists to the West. I think that chance meeting closed my eyes to the true horror of the Stalinist state that Poland really was and which is portrayed unflinchingly in the film.
Suspects get beaten up, arrested wrongfully, forced to confess. But lets not go to far overboard on this. It was happening in France, the US, the UK too. As in the film, public lavatories were raided by cops in the UK as well. Lives were ruined.
Robert, the son of a Secret Service colonel, has a sense of morality and open mindedness. When he and his colleague are tasked with finding the murderer of a prominent closeted gay man, he thinks naively that they will be properly investigating. He should have realised that by he and his partner being given the case instead of the murder squad that there were plots within plots.
Unsatisfied by the culmination of the case, he strikes out on his own to find a web of corruption that extends right to the top. During this personal inquiry, he discovers himself and his true desires.
Desperate danger arrives for him and the new friends he has made and he makes his personal, political, moral and professional choice during an award ceremony for having "solved" the original murder. In the final scene, we are left hoping against hope that he can keep the promise that he made to Arek.
The period details of this film were perfect. I loved the music being played in the bars and formal dinners, so incredibly old-fashioned compared to the West. The clothes and the filming locations were perfect. A true-to-life detail was that everyone smoked. Virtually every scene had people lighting up.
Tension was held through the whole of the running time of one hour and fifty minutes. There wasn't a minute I was tempted to look at my watch or phone. I highly recommend this film.
Suspects get beaten up, arrested wrongfully, forced to confess. But lets not go to far overboard on this. It was happening in France, the US, the UK too. As in the film, public lavatories were raided by cops in the UK as well. Lives were ruined.
Robert, the son of a Secret Service colonel, has a sense of morality and open mindedness. When he and his colleague are tasked with finding the murderer of a prominent closeted gay man, he thinks naively that they will be properly investigating. He should have realised that by he and his partner being given the case instead of the murder squad that there were plots within plots.
Unsatisfied by the culmination of the case, he strikes out on his own to find a web of corruption that extends right to the top. During this personal inquiry, he discovers himself and his true desires.
Desperate danger arrives for him and the new friends he has made and he makes his personal, political, moral and professional choice during an award ceremony for having "solved" the original murder. In the final scene, we are left hoping against hope that he can keep the promise that he made to Arek.
The period details of this film were perfect. I loved the music being played in the bars and formal dinners, so incredibly old-fashioned compared to the West. The clothes and the filming locations were perfect. A true-to-life detail was that everyone smoked. Virtually every scene had people lighting up.
Tension was held through the whole of the running time of one hour and fifty minutes. There wasn't a minute I was tempted to look at my watch or phone. I highly recommend this film.
great timestamp...
ops-5253514 October 2021
And a fly on the wall look at how lbgtq+ where treated as criminals in communist republic of poland, it hasnt nescesarrily changed so much but it tells the harsh climate back then.
Props and production design are very good, filmographically its from the best of polish traditions, and the story and plot is extremely different from hollywoods.
So take a deep dive into the groin of polandish homophobia, its dark, wellacted and pretty groundbreaking silver screen art from east of the old iron curtain. Grumpy old man recommends.
Props and production design are very good, filmographically its from the best of polish traditions, and the story and plot is extremely different from hollywoods.
So take a deep dive into the groin of polandish homophobia, its dark, wellacted and pretty groundbreaking silver screen art from east of the old iron curtain. Grumpy old man recommends.
Gritty and revealing
brockfal24 October 2021
It's still in the news today how badly the LGBT community can be treated in Poland, and this fact is echoed in this thriller set during the latter years of communist rule in that country (1985-7) when, apparently, a campaign was set up against the community by the authorities. Those looking for a straight forward thriller will be disappointed, as although those elements are there, and are grittily and realistically done, it seems to me that the film is a lot more to do with identity, freedom, and of course sexuality, focusing as it does on the central character, a young policeman sent by his prejudiced superiors to investigate the murder of a known gay. The end result is a drama on many levels which some might feel is heavy handed, but which I found quite absorbing.
FACT-BASED.
andrewchristianjr2 November 2021
This is a really tight fact-based drama based on a true chapter from the ignominious past of communist Poland. Beautifully photographed and set in a bleak Warsaw winter. Good performances all around and a compelling narrative make this stand above gay persecution tropes that often accompany similarly themed motion pictures.
Good thriller
kigaiyuuto15 October 2021
Glad to be just a newborn during that period of time (1985-1987) from what I saw on this movie.
It is successful in painting bleak and grimy days of communist Poland and it is respectful to every party involved, even the police/militia lol.
Good job to everyone involved. IMO this is better than other similarly themed Netflix original movies: Dance of 41, Dear Ex and I Am Jonas.
It is successful in painting bleak and grimy days of communist Poland and it is respectful to every party involved, even the police/militia lol.
Good job to everyone involved. IMO this is better than other similarly themed Netflix original movies: Dance of 41, Dear Ex and I Am Jonas.
pictures
Kirpianuscus16 March 2022
At the first sigh, a film about Polish pink files under Comunist regime. In essence, just an inspired portrait of a dictatorship. Admirable work of Tomasz Zietek, precise and sublle exploration of a dark universe, good game of apparences, mix of justice spirit and love .
A well crafted film about idealism and truth, proposing not exactly, not only, a requisitorium against homophobia but a beautiful work about live in truth.
A well crafted film about idealism and truth, proposing not exactly, not only, a requisitorium against homophobia but a beautiful work about live in truth.
Interesting and provocative
scottinhawaii-120 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's like a 40's American thriller with a French film ending. By which I mean, the film just stops. Not that I mind that. A tidy ending isn't always needed.
I think I missed all the details that explain the central mystery. But I got the gist. That's enough.
Based on true facts of persecution of gays in Poland 1985-87. But the movie has a noir 40s look. Switch out the cars and some of the set decorations and it could have been then. Maybe that's the intent of the look.
It's a well made and good looking film. It's moody and sad.
I think I missed all the details that explain the central mystery. But I got the gist. That's enough.
Based on true facts of persecution of gays in Poland 1985-87. But the movie has a noir 40s look. Switch out the cars and some of the set decorations and it could have been then. Maybe that's the intent of the look.
It's a well made and good looking film. It's moody and sad.
Tough watch, but important
morf-987-4038584 January 2022
This ain't your feel-good Gay movie. This is one of our stories about our tough history. It's about a society who is locked in homophobia, to the point of seeking out the queers to criminalize them. It's well-done drama, based on the the Hyacinth Operation in Communist Poland in the 80s, rooting out queers to rat on other queers, etc.
There are some lighter parts, such as a glimpse of a clandestine queer party full of silly antics. And you do get to experience the some of queer "family" support through horrendous times. And a little bit of sex.
Definitely worth a watch. It's part of our history. (Unfortunately, it's also part of our present, given Poland's continued institutionalized homophobia).
Please watch it. It's entertaining. And it's important!
There are some lighter parts, such as a glimpse of a clandestine queer party full of silly antics. And you do get to experience the some of queer "family" support through horrendous times. And a little bit of sex.
Definitely worth a watch. It's part of our history. (Unfortunately, it's also part of our present, given Poland's continued institutionalized homophobia).
Please watch it. It's entertaining. And it's important!
LGBTQIA+ film
lso-soares1 February 2022
Polish film directed by Piotr Domalewski, starring Tomasz Zietek (Robert) and Hubert Mikowski (Arek).
The plot takes place in 1985, in Warsaw, Poland, at the time of communism in the country, when there was a hunt for homosexuals by the police, registering them, chasing them, and using a lot of violence against them. This operation really existed and was called Jacinto (Hilacynt of the original title), as homosexuals were jokingly called at that time in Poland.
Robert is a rising police officer in the police, with his father as his direct boss. Not satisfied with the conclusion of an investigation into the murder of a rich gay man, carried out in an ethical, moral and legal manner, Robert decides to investigate on his own and discover a connection between pimps, hustlers and politicians, resulting in a series of murders and suicides. In this investigation, he meets Arek, who becomes his informant and key to unlocking the killer's identity. There's still an interesting plot twist with Robert.
The script does not delve into the issue of male prostitution, with powerful people involved, focusing more on Robert and his relationships with his family, with co-workers, including his father-in-chief, his girlfriend, also a policewoman, with himself and with the prostitution ring that he discovered. As the film goes on, Robert begins to turn more towards himself, asking, internally, several questions.
The plot takes place in 1985, in Warsaw, Poland, at the time of communism in the country, when there was a hunt for homosexuals by the police, registering them, chasing them, and using a lot of violence against them. This operation really existed and was called Jacinto (Hilacynt of the original title), as homosexuals were jokingly called at that time in Poland.
Robert is a rising police officer in the police, with his father as his direct boss. Not satisfied with the conclusion of an investigation into the murder of a rich gay man, carried out in an ethical, moral and legal manner, Robert decides to investigate on his own and discover a connection between pimps, hustlers and politicians, resulting in a series of murders and suicides. In this investigation, he meets Arek, who becomes his informant and key to unlocking the killer's identity. There's still an interesting plot twist with Robert.
The script does not delve into the issue of male prostitution, with powerful people involved, focusing more on Robert and his relationships with his family, with co-workers, including his father-in-chief, his girlfriend, also a policewoman, with himself and with the prostitution ring that he discovered. As the film goes on, Robert begins to turn more towards himself, asking, internally, several questions.
Entertaining but confusing
qui_j25 October 2021
This is an entertaining drama , but also somewhat confusing due to the way it is edited and scripted. The ending leaves viewers hanging and having to form their own conclusions. Had the story been better told and the character development been more detailed, it could get a higher rating. Overall, good for what it tries to show, just not excellent at telling a good story in a coherent manner!
hm
WankerReviews13 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Disappointed plot wise. Was under the impression this would be about a serial killer that targets gays, and the police department is homophoibc, and dragging their feet to solve it, while one lone detective tries to solve it himself. I was looking forward to mystery and some thrills, but it played more like a light action with the lead character battling his sexuality.
A dark time in Polish history successfully told
danybur24 October 2021
Summary
What appeared to be a Polish version of Cruising at the beginning is definitely not. It is a successful neo noir, controversial due to its subject matter for a Polish fiction, which recounts a police investigation into a period during which thousands of homosexuals and heterosexuals related to them were persecuted, mistreated, booked and sometimes compulsively detained. This is another of those films that strongly recreates that oppressive period climate, but also everyday "behind the iron curtain".
Review:
During the 1980s, while the Polish police and secret service carried out Operation or Action Jacinto, the young detective Robert (Tomasz Zietek, with an air of Polish Alain Delon) faces the investigation, as an undercover agent, of a murder in the underground gay community in Warsaw. Despite the rapid "solving" of the case under pressure from the SB (Polish intelligence and secret police, in which his own father is a colonel), Robert insists on carrying out the investigation and will do so for more than one reason.
What appeared to be a Polish version of Cruising at the beginning, is definitely not. Piotr Domalewski's film is a neo noir in which Robert's research poses challenges to the system that are later enhanced by more personal ones that are added. It is controversial for a Polish fiction to relate a police investigation referring to a period during which thousands of homosexuals were registered in a compulsive way from raids in a framework of denunciation so expensive to Stalinism and police brutality and that gave rise to all kinds of extortion. In other words, Operation Jacinto appears as the background of the investigation and not as the plot axis of the film. Perhaps for this reason, his denunciation is more powerful since he paints a whole period painting.
This is another of those films that strongly recreates that period climate "behind the iron curtain." The staging uses a photograph and a successful eighties soundtrack and the police and personal intrigues of the detective (although they contain some predictable elements) are very well concocted and carried out, supported by the acting solvency to which we are accustomed to Polish fictions.
What appeared to be a Polish version of Cruising at the beginning is definitely not. It is a successful neo noir, controversial due to its subject matter for a Polish fiction, which recounts a police investigation into a period during which thousands of homosexuals and heterosexuals related to them were persecuted, mistreated, booked and sometimes compulsively detained. This is another of those films that strongly recreates that oppressive period climate, but also everyday "behind the iron curtain".
Review:
During the 1980s, while the Polish police and secret service carried out Operation or Action Jacinto, the young detective Robert (Tomasz Zietek, with an air of Polish Alain Delon) faces the investigation, as an undercover agent, of a murder in the underground gay community in Warsaw. Despite the rapid "solving" of the case under pressure from the SB (Polish intelligence and secret police, in which his own father is a colonel), Robert insists on carrying out the investigation and will do so for more than one reason.
What appeared to be a Polish version of Cruising at the beginning, is definitely not. Piotr Domalewski's film is a neo noir in which Robert's research poses challenges to the system that are later enhanced by more personal ones that are added. It is controversial for a Polish fiction to relate a police investigation referring to a period during which thousands of homosexuals were registered in a compulsive way from raids in a framework of denunciation so expensive to Stalinism and police brutality and that gave rise to all kinds of extortion. In other words, Operation Jacinto appears as the background of the investigation and not as the plot axis of the film. Perhaps for this reason, his denunciation is more powerful since he paints a whole period painting.
This is another of those films that strongly recreates that period climate "behind the iron curtain." The staging uses a photograph and a successful eighties soundtrack and the police and personal intrigues of the detective (although they contain some predictable elements) are very well concocted and carried out, supported by the acting solvency to which we are accustomed to Polish fictions.
Impeccably Done
sergepesic14 March 2022
!980's Poland. The cracks in the repressive system are showing everywhere. This is a time when Solidarity, the trade union becomes a force to reckon with. The era of ideals has long gone, nobody believes in the Communist "paradise", least of all communists themselves. All that's left is naked repression. And they certainly knew how to repress. Among many other monstrous ideas was to make list of known homosexuals and force them into collaboration. "Operation Hyacinth" is an impeccably done film-noir. The set-up might be quite familiar, lone wolf policeman fighting for justice, but this drab, gray world of the Iron Curtain Poland is starting to shift and change giving a glimpse of things to come. Long path from Communism to ultra-catholic right-wing nationalism might seem like a colossal waste of time, but the bare fact of this movie being made, shows that better things are coming. The old repression didn't win in the end, the new one will fail too. Sooner or later.
Confusing and unhealthy fantasy.
botavuan13 November 2023
This film seemed to me to be a rather sick heterosexual fantasy of violence with little connection with reality. It was also very difficult to work out what was going on. Why did we have that (as usual, offensive) bit of heterosex at the beginning ? It seems that every film now has to include sex and violence (usually with guns).
I cruised in toilets in countries where homosexuality was illegal, and where there were occasional police raids. I cruised in East Berlin in 1986, which turned out to be a better experience than any I had in West Berlin.
Heterosexuals seem to be taking ownership of queerness as American cinema has taken over the whole world. I have met over 100 queers and none of them had had problems with the police.
There have been stories of police acting as agents-provocateurs in 'cottages', and certainly this did occur.
The main problem for queers (especially those who looked vulnerable) was drunken or homophobic or otherwise-disturbed youths and young men in twos or threes - or, occasionally, gangs.
I think that there is some tiny bit of truth in the fascist "Cold Winter Theory" as evidenced in the thousands of films that have issued and are still issuing from European (American, Australian etc) film makers whose films almost all contain enacted sex, violence and (slightly less often) firearms. This supposedly LGBTQ-supporting film had all of them...appealing not to LGBTQ people but to thrill-seeking heterosexual 'normals'.
This film seemed to me to be a cynical exploitation/exaggeration of situations that occurred on either side of the Iron Curtain. In my country (Ireland) 'homosexual acts' weren't legalised until 1987, and public toilets, such as 'mushrooms', 'cottages', 'tasses', etc were much used by men seeking partners, pals, friends for life - or instant relief. From 1966 to 1996 I never once encountered a policeman, except once or twice IN UNIFORM as a warning in Belfast's Botanic Gardens.
I cruised in toilets in countries where homosexuality was illegal, and where there were occasional police raids. I cruised in East Berlin in 1986, which turned out to be a better experience than any I had in West Berlin.
Heterosexuals seem to be taking ownership of queerness as American cinema has taken over the whole world. I have met over 100 queers and none of them had had problems with the police.
There have been stories of police acting as agents-provocateurs in 'cottages', and certainly this did occur.
The main problem for queers (especially those who looked vulnerable) was drunken or homophobic or otherwise-disturbed youths and young men in twos or threes - or, occasionally, gangs.
I think that there is some tiny bit of truth in the fascist "Cold Winter Theory" as evidenced in the thousands of films that have issued and are still issuing from European (American, Australian etc) film makers whose films almost all contain enacted sex, violence and (slightly less often) firearms. This supposedly LGBTQ-supporting film had all of them...appealing not to LGBTQ people but to thrill-seeking heterosexual 'normals'.
This film seemed to me to be a cynical exploitation/exaggeration of situations that occurred on either side of the Iron Curtain. In my country (Ireland) 'homosexual acts' weren't legalised until 1987, and public toilets, such as 'mushrooms', 'cottages', 'tasses', etc were much used by men seeking partners, pals, friends for life - or instant relief. From 1966 to 1996 I never once encountered a policeman, except once or twice IN UNIFORM as a warning in Belfast's Botanic Gardens.
One of the best lgbt+ movies I have ever seen!
lenalissner7 January 2022
Poland is usually against lgbt so it was skeptical about this movie even though is fact based. Now I wish to be able to watch it again for the first time. I hope more movies like this appear in poland because they make me finally proud of film making there. And make me feel represented. This might be a big step for polish netflix so please dont waste it! Even my not so accepting parents loved it. And finally 1980s' warsaw shown beautifully and accurately. Another film representing in the same awesome way I can think of is "Suicide Room" which was also really good. So go for it and please poland dont mess it up!
Political and police abuse
mjloge30 March 2022
Excellent casting. Some of the plot connections are a bit elusive, but the message of political and police abuse is very clear. The film certainly underscores the cultural oppression of Poland. Hopefully the honesty that this film brings to bear will help to change cultural attitudes.
Very worth viewing.
Very worth viewing.
full spoilers. do not read before watching.
zorn-835437 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Why doesn't Arek pull the trigger?
This house believes we're looking at the finale of Romeo and Juliet.
The assassin is, well, an assassin. Robert is bleeding on the ground, Arek assumes he's dead. Arek has already been shot, his friends and acquaintances are dead, and now his beloved is dead or dying.
Why doesn't he shoot the assassin? He's being personally hunted by the chief of police, he's being professionally hunted by the state, his life is over, his beloved is dead. And he's a thoughtful guy, he reads Hegel in the original German, he's thinking about life, and his own life, and there's nothing left for him to defend, there's nowhere to run. The assassin works for the chief of police, he will be hunted by another and another...
But of course Robert is a tough guy, and when the assassin takes back the gun and starts to drown Arek, Robert smashes his head in, brutally and fatally, expressing his fury in violence, now his own life is over.
When they finally face each other, Arek tells Robert to run away with him, and when Robert says no, Arek says "I'm not going without you." The Romeo and Juliet moment.
This seems to echo the moment when Arek is looking at what he thinks is the dead body of his beloved Robert, and the moment, pointing the gun, when the meaning and purpose of existence evaporates, the moment of despair, or the only moment when we are truly free. If nothing means anything then you can choose what is important for yourself.
Two Houses, academia and the law. The boss cop runs a brothel and the professor is the pimp... alike in dignity.
I am haunted. Truly haunted. Top noir, with snow instead of rain.
This house believes we're looking at the finale of Romeo and Juliet.
The assassin is, well, an assassin. Robert is bleeding on the ground, Arek assumes he's dead. Arek has already been shot, his friends and acquaintances are dead, and now his beloved is dead or dying.
Why doesn't he shoot the assassin? He's being personally hunted by the chief of police, he's being professionally hunted by the state, his life is over, his beloved is dead. And he's a thoughtful guy, he reads Hegel in the original German, he's thinking about life, and his own life, and there's nothing left for him to defend, there's nowhere to run. The assassin works for the chief of police, he will be hunted by another and another...
But of course Robert is a tough guy, and when the assassin takes back the gun and starts to drown Arek, Robert smashes his head in, brutally and fatally, expressing his fury in violence, now his own life is over.
When they finally face each other, Arek tells Robert to run away with him, and when Robert says no, Arek says "I'm not going without you." The Romeo and Juliet moment.
This seems to echo the moment when Arek is looking at what he thinks is the dead body of his beloved Robert, and the moment, pointing the gun, when the meaning and purpose of existence evaporates, the moment of despair, or the only moment when we are truly free. If nothing means anything then you can choose what is important for yourself.
Two Houses, academia and the law. The boss cop runs a brothel and the professor is the pimp... alike in dignity.
I am haunted. Truly haunted. Top noir, with snow instead of rain.
Impressed to say the least
schmidtsophia6 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
As an lgbt+ person living in a post-soviet country, watching this movie made me feel a range of various emotions as here things are pretty much the same as shown in the movie. As for the film itself, It's an unexpected blend of a noir police drama with a beautiful story of self-discovery. It leaves you bitter at the end, but worth every bit of emotion you feel on the way. Great cinematography.
good film
WlfrmG10 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Good film, i had a Polish boyfriend in 1985 and was often in Poland in these years (I was living in West Berlin). I was in about the same age as the main characters in the film, so i can heavily relate to the setting, time and people. The brownish dark. Coloring of the film is exactly how i remember these days in Poland. The cloth and fashion are also very accurate. While in the West, moustaches were in 1985 pretty much uncool, in Poland everybody was wearing them. The story is in the first half sometimes a bit slow, but in the second half of the film i really got into it. The acting is very good. The film clearly shows how complicated gay life was in Poland. However, homosexuality was not forbidden. Lists of gay people held by the police were in the West common too. The story of a sex tape with important people on it, could be a story in any western country too.
Through the Lens Darkly
albertval-6956012 March 2022
It's an eye opener for those of us who know little about what was happening behind the Iron Curtain, particularly in communist Poland circa 1985-1987. It's against the background of the operation targeting queer people (as in LGBTQ+) that the story of Robert Mrozowska is told. He is fighting an entrenched system that clearly doesn't look kindly to lone rangers or no-nonsense detectives. His grim determination is admirable, and actor Tomasz Zistek effortlessly breathes life into it. As he finds out more about the murders, he also finds more about himself. But is going down this path worth it?
Tomasz and Hubert Milkowski deliver great, subtle performances as Robert and Arek, respectively.
The script is taut and gripping, and you are immersed in the twists of the story. Director Piotr Domalewski succeeds in creating a story that is haunting; the viewer can't shake off the sense of realism that imbues this film.
Tomasz and Hubert Milkowski deliver great, subtle performances as Robert and Arek, respectively.
The script is taut and gripping, and you are immersed in the twists of the story. Director Piotr Domalewski succeeds in creating a story that is haunting; the viewer can't shake off the sense of realism that imbues this film.
Divine
pedroautreto28 November 2021
BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Impartialreviewer6 January 2023
This is a must watch! Great acting, script and cinematography. The movie is engaging to the viewer, intellectually. The movie lacked publicity, possibly the main reason that the movie is unnoticed and overlooked. Shame that something that well made goes unrecognized. Polish cinema presents a movie worth its fair twice over. A hidden gem. The movie can be felt. The emotions portrayed so beautifully that it's immersive, it presents realism at its best. Allow it to take you on that journey.
Haven't seen a movies that resonated with me like that for a while. Hopefully Netflix will publicize it internationally.
Regards,
Haven't seen a movies that resonated with me like that for a while. Hopefully Netflix will publicize it internationally.
Regards,
amazing beautiful actors and setting but....
thompson-8017525 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Everything started out so promising and beautifully but then came the ending and it ruined the whole impression of the movie for me.... maybe it's just me but I needed more of just this sort of open ending?..... anyways it's a must watch))
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