A great film of Stanisława Lenartowicz, a film director who – for a long time was underappreciated and pushed to the background – and who, today, is rightly considered to be the “ambience master” and one of the greatest individualists of the Polish cinema.
A subtle, poetic story about the autumn of life and love stronger than age-related constraints and social norms.
A small provincial town, somewhere in Wielkopolska region. A man who claims to be her husband missing for the last forty years, appears at Barbara Kaczmarkowa’s doorstep. The woman is torn apart by contradictory feelings. She claims that she does not believe what the man says, however she allows him to stay at her home. Old Ignac’s friends are also doubtful and so are the local vicar and a police sergeant, who suspects that the alleged Kaczmarek is, in the reality, Zenon Kaługa, who has escaped from an old people’s home. Gradually, Ignac starts to get along with other people, however the sergeant’s suspicions prove right. On the day when Mr and Ms Kaczmarek should be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, Igac vel Zenon tormented by remorse decides to leave the town and the woman he has already fallen in love with. Barbara prevents him from doing so, as she no longer cares about the true identity of her false husband but about him. There is a wedding instead of a golden wedding anniversary.
Great ambience is emphasized by beautiful music by Wojciech Kilar.
Exceptional performance of Jadwiga Chojnacka and Zdzisław Karczewski, actors known mostly for characteristic and supporting roles.
Excerpt from the movie
