Cicha noc

@deloudelouvain Who did not grow up in Poland will never truly understand and feel this movie. Especially an American person who has no idea how it feels to be a work immigrant in another country when people treat you as a 2nd grade person, how it feels to leave your family behind or how it feels for families to be alone.

The Polish film Cicha noc (2017) was shown in the U.S. with the translated title Silent Night. It was written and directed by Piotr Domalewski.

The movie takes place in a single day--Christmas Eve in a rural Polish region. Dawid Ogrodnik portrays Adam, a young man returning from Holland to have Christmas with his family and his pregnant fiancee, Asia. During the entire film, Adam is talking to Asia on the telephone, promising to be with her soon. This in itself lends an edginess to to the movie. Ogrodnik is a good actor, and does well in his role as protagonist.

Adam's family is almost completely dysfunctional. During the day we witness alcoholism, spouse abuse, and violence. Then things get worse.

The opening and closing scenes both show us Adam riding a bus--to home and from home. The plot is what happens in between those bus rides.

The acting is excellent throughout--especially by Tomasz Zietek, who portrays Adam's younger brother Pawel; Agnieszka Suchora who plays Teresa, Adam's mother; and Arkadiusz Jakubik, Adam's father.

I have yet to see a Polish narrative film that wasn't grim. Silent Night is no exception. It's a very powerful movie, with a solid IMDb rating of 7.2. I think it's even better than that. However, I don't think there was even one frame in the film that would bring laughter. We saw the movie on the large screen at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It was shown as part of the outstanding Rochester Polish Film Festival. It will work well on the small screen as well.

Fair warning: This isn't a movie for a first date, and it certainly won't replace Charlie Brown's Christmas.

The Christmas depicted in this film has something truly polish in it. I think it can be only understood by the East-Europeans, especially living in small communities. Emigrants who are living in between two countries - none of which is their true home. Broken families, alcohol addiction, tough siblings relations. The story where everyone has something to prove but yet, no one really can. Definitely worth watching, considering the fact that the film has few surprises as the story goes.

The first reviewer wrote: "Maybe by Polish standards this is jewel". Quite wrong. A list of films made in Poland better than this one would be very long, with this one pretty close to the bottom of the complete list. The actors are not bad, this is true, but the script is nonsensical. There is a German Christmas carol "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht", quite popular in Central Europe, and Cicha noc = Stille Nacht = Quiet night. However, this film title is a mockery. Christmas in this film is nothing but quiet. We have a large number of characters - but wishing them well on the part of the viewer would be difficult - perhaps except for the mother of Adam and except for the young girl. The Netherlands are presented as so far away as if in the southern hemisphere. Why the girlfriend of the main hero did not visit him repeatedly during his stay abroad? Why is the grandfather of Adam described early as very drunk, while throughout the film he is making more sense than the most of them? If you wish to see a good Polish comedy made just one year before this one, watch Planeta singli = The Planet of the singles.

Cicha noc paints a poignant and intimate portrait of family dynamics. The film follows a man named Adam, who returns home for the holidays after a long time away. What unfolds is a mix of warmth and tension, as old wounds and unresolved issues come to the surface during what's supposed to be a festive time. What I really loved about the film was its ability to blend humor with heartache. It captures those awkward family moments we all can relate to, whether it's the probing questions from relatives or the unspoken rivalries that simmer just below the surface. The cinematography is beautifully done, with cozy, atmospheric shots that make you feel right in the middle of this family's Christmas gathering. The performances are top-notch, especially from the lead actor, who brings a raw honesty to his role. You can feel his struggle, and it resonated with me on many levels. It's a film that embraces the bittersweet nature of family life, reminding us that while family can be a source of love and support, it also comes with its fair share of baggage.

It is a heartfelt exploration of the complexities of family gatherings. Good for a cozy night in when you want something that will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even shed a tear.