Storyline

Sports club manager Ryszard Ochódzki (Stanislaw Tym) may live in Poland, but most of his money sits in an English bank account. This becomes a problem when, upon getting ready to travel to London, Rysiek finds several crucial pages removed from his passport. Now he can't leave Poland, and suspects that his ex-wife, Irena (Barbara Burska), may be plotting to make off with his savings. To foil her plans, Ryszard will have to find someone who looks exactly like him.

Plot Keywords

husband, ex-wife, doppelganger, man, manager, friend, quirky, amusing, poland, border, street, apartment, con game, travel, theft, identity, race against time, marriage, discovery, pursuit, rivalry, 1980s

Short Review

Smart, absurd, outrageously funny, brilliantly acted, scathingly critical, and, at least for Polish (and maybe other) audiences who grew up under socialism, tragic and moving. Unfortunately, much of its brilliance is lost in translation, and the film might not make sense to viewers unfamiliar with post-WWII Eastern European history. The general plot is as described by other reviewers; it serves as a vehicle for a tour of life under Soviet-imposed socialism, covering different social strata -- from the high-rolling, parasitic Communist Party minister residing atop the Palac Kultury to the motivation-lacking boiler room workers, drinking their lives away while the tenants freeze. At its core, the film is about a disintegrating society driven to and witnessing daily acts of absurdity. Of course, the depiction is a bit exaggerated, but it's not far off from the reality of that time. Humor can be a powerful weapon.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership