Sexmissão

I must admit that I haven't seen many movies made in Poland (shame, but not many are played here...), but this one is a real gem, which achieved cult status in this region.

The story is about two men who are hibernated for 3 years for showing "the victory of mankind over time", but wake up 53 years later in society ruled by women. Men are extinct, all living men were killed by a bomb and the surviving women have to leave under the Earth's surface in complexes. One of the women says: "Encounter with men are areal". Our heroes don't panic however... they have only one goal: re-establishing somehow the old regime. Not an easy task, considering they are the only men alive, surrounded by man-hating ("man-eating"), fanatic women whose goal is either to naturalize or to kill them.

One can't forget that this movie was made in 1984 when communism was in its place and didn't seem to melt yet. Nowadays I wonder a bit that it was allowed to show in the cinemas, because this movie is a perfect satire of any totaliarist regime (including communism) and blind fanaticism. There is very subtle humor between the lines and this humor is what makes this movie a cult movie. However serious the theme, the movie catches the mood and the movements so easily and with such wit that you can't help but laugh. Making fun of something is the best way to criticize it and Seksmisja is a perfect example.

This movie is highly recommended for anyone in the world. Seeing it only once isn't enough... to get the whole idea and the subtler humor, you have to watch it several times. If you want to enjoy it fully, get the original Polish version with subtitles.

"Someone hurts you? You're in trouble? You can count on Women's Council!"

It's showing at the Everyman soon

Sexmission, Juliusz Machulski's sexy second feature, is a cult Polish comedy, whose dialogues and lines have entered into every day language. Two men kept in hibernation for 50 years learn that they are the only living specimens of the male sex in a new, underground society run by the League of Women's Lib. The female archeologist who digs them up hypothesises she has found the missing link between women and apes.The heroes facing harsh treatment from their female guards will do anything to save their skin and to re-establish the male population.This highly original sci-fi story with a twist and great performances by Poland's top actors is one of the most popular Polish movies of all times.

This is one of the two Polish movies I've ever seen (the other one was incidentally Kilerów Dwóch, also by Juliusz Machulski), and I wish I could see it subtitled. (The Czech version contains an unbelievable goof where the sound is like ten seconds behind the picture in one scene.) What can I say? The film relies largely on funny situations and witty one-liners, but as a whole it is a blatant and witty satire on the Communist regime, and potentially on any other regime, but above all, is a good comedy. I have it under good authority that there is no-one in Poland who hasn't seen Seksmisja. :)

I recently saw this brilliant Polish film with English subtitles and I must say that I am becoming quite a fan of this director. After seeing this, I realize that the Wachowski Brothers are obviously Polish, hailing from Chicago - a Polish epicenter and obviously fans of this film. If you liked the philosophy, the 'what is real' twists running in the Matrix then you best check this film and witness the obvious inspiration for that stunning trilogy.

This film is seriously clever, gratuitous and the obvious forerunner to what we praise the Wachowski Brothers for so cleverly revealing to the American audience; the decadence of totalitarian regimes, propaganda and fascist idiosyncrasies. Mind you this film is funny, even with subtitles.

'Sex Mission' is a Polish classic. It is an obvious reaction to Communism and quite brilliant as a humanist science fiction. Quite a few scenes seem to be properly praised throughout the Matrix Trilogy and its fun to witness the clever inspiration for such blockbuster features.

"Sexmission" has everything that a good movie needs - a plot, memorable characters, well written dialog and a bigger concept underlying the story. In fact there are two concept that meet at several points: the gender stereotypes seen from different perspectives and the totalitarian dystopia.

If I had to advertise the movie to non-Polish viewers (especially the English-speaking ones) perhaps I would give it a tag line "Orwell meets Benny Hill".

The beginning of the plot is well known - two hibernated men, Max and Albert, wake up after a great war in the hands of all-female totalitarian state. The women are brainwashed (a strong mockery of radical feminism) so they perceive males as a threat to the society. Our heroes realize that the ways they have dealt with women before - cheap compliments (Max) and appearing vulnerable (Albert) - will just not work here. The two men have to rely on their better features: wit, courage, honest male friendship and strong faith in humanity in their pursuit for freedom and restoring the laws of nature.

The political satire is very well constructed, since the women's society as presented in the movie has all the features of the totalitarian regime. The loyalty to the League (equivalent of the Party) is superior to all interpersonal relationships and what is the most significant, the League's propaganda purposely misrepresents reality as well as history.

The gender stereotypes are explored with rather positive attitude, showing that there's no use of denying our own nature and that the differences between the genders, even with their weaknesses, is what we are attracted to.

The outcome of these ideas is that you definitely become a better man and a better woman when you are allowed the freedom of thought.

I believe you don't have to "know Poland" to understand the movie, but in fact any experience with political (science) fiction is enough. Enjoy!