Na wylot

"Na wylot" (Through and Through) was a striking debut of film director Grzegorz Krolikiewicz, and I remember watching it at the Student Film Club in the 1970s. Grzegorz Krolikiewicz was somewhat similar to David Lynch or Peter Greenaway, in the sense that he sought to express his personality not only in the contents of his works but also in their innovative form. The plot of "Through and Through" is set in the 1930s. Jan Malish (Franciszek Trzeciak) and Maria Malisz (Anna Nieborowska) meet in a drinking den on the outskirts of Cracow, and they get married. Soon, the man loses his job at a photography studio. The Malisz couple struggles with poverty, humiliation, and permanent unemployment. Treated by their family as slackers, they fall into a deep depression, which leads to tragedy. The film is not for all tastes, but it is so highly original and innovative, and it is something you remember for years. The plot is also not linear, and the viewer has to construct it from scraps of material or some hints. "Through and Through" is black and white with very innovative camera work, and the soundtrack plays a greater role. So it is not direct narration but camera and sound that express the emotional tone of individual situations. We have to mention great performances of Franciszek Trzeciak and Anna Nieborowska too. The film received several national and international awards and, in my opinion, deserves to be remembered.