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Manville trapped in 1981 Warsaw's surreal nightmare
14 Oct
Summary
- British psychologist Lesley Manville is stranded in 1981 Warsaw.
- Martial law is in effect following Solidarity's rise.
- Surreal details like live carp in baths add to the unease.
Set in 1981 Warsaw during General Jaruzelski's martial law, the film follows British academic psychologist Professor Andrews, played by Lesley Manville. Invited to lecture, she outlines views on mental illness but is disrupted by student protests calling Poland an oppressive asylum. Confusion mounts when Andrews loses her bag and passport, forcing her to stay in a relative's flat.
Waking to a tank outside, Andrews realizes the clampdown has begun, with secret police everywhere and no way to leave. The movie blends cold war thriller elements with surreal, Kafkaesque moments, such as people queuing to buy live carp for food, which they keep in their baths.
This intriguing and disquieting film captures the drear of Poland under martial law. While the storytelling occasionally slows, the bizarre details create a uniquely unsettling atmosphere for Professor Andrews' ordeal.
