Une femme seule

A single mother near Wroclaw called Irena (Maria Chwalibog) struggles to bring up her 'troubled' young son Bogus (Pawel Witzak) and care for a dying elderly relative. Then romance appears in the form of an unhinged crippled mine accident victim called Jacek (Boguslaw Linda). A visceral, emotion drenched portrait of the poor and marginalised in allegedly 'socialist' Poland, this 1981 feature film melodrama from director Agnieszka Holland reminds one a little of the social dramas of Ken Loach, who examined another stratified society (Britain). Despite serious social themes Holland and Marciej Karpinski's screenplay has a vein of at times dry dark humour running through it, sometimes involving Bogus (dropping a fly into sleeping mum's mouth, imagining shooting up his school/neighbours, and imagining mum with wings flying over his school at the end). Chwalibog is good in the lead role as Irena (a woman alone who doesn't fare well because of the men in her life and a system of eerily familiar economic inequality), in what is perhaps a kind of black romantic comedy drama (but Polish style).

Director Agnieszka Holland's "Kobieta Samotna" is the true portrayal of the harsh life of ordinary people under communist regime. It is the depiction of a single woman with modest economic resources who looks after herself and her young son against all odds which makes this film extremely humanist as well as intelligent.In many ways,this film is a grim reminder of sufferings endured by the proletariat in Poland.Polish actress Maria Chwalibog gives a brilliant yet a discreet performance in order to delineate Irena, a postal worker who supplements her little income with minor tips which she receives occasionally from people.The extent to which this film remains close to detail concerns a scene which shows a petty watchman using physical force to prevent Irena and her son from lodging their complaint.This film also stars Boguslaw Linda-One of the most famous Polish actors.As a disabled former miner,he plays one of the least glamorous roles of his career.Although the film is a veiled critique of communist government in Poland,it did not manage to escape the wrath of communist authorities. This film was banned by authorities when martial law was declared in Poland.

If you consider "Requiem for a dream" to be the most depressing movie that have ever made, you're wrong. "Kobieta samotna" ("A lonely woman") isn't easily available to watch besides Poland, and that's way, most of you are lucky people. This film gives us an authentic, pure sorrow. Thus, it is not destined for people suffered from depression problems. It isn't so easy to watch. Many people can't stand watching it to its end. I can't either.

This mood is an effect of a great cast and actors' playing. This movie convinces us, that Boguslaw Linda was the really good actor in the past.

Must see.

A little bit forgotten but in my opinion the best film made by Agnieszka Holland ever. Moving story of unhappy love, strongly connected with Polish reality of the 80's. True, bitter and hopeless story of fallen expectations. Must see!