Octopus Cafe

(Cafe pod Minogą)


1959   >   comedy/ war

An adaptation of the novel “Cafe Pod Minogą” by the legendary satirist Stefan Wiechecki “Wiech” called the “Homer of the Warsaw streets”. Wiechecki was also the co-author of the screenplay.

The satirical comedy is homage to Warsaw and its inhabitants, who even in the toughest times keep up their courage, humor and style.

Warsaw, summer of the year 1939. "Cafe pod Minogą" café is a popular meeting place for the local inhabitants. The key regular guests include three supervisors: Maniuś Kitajec and the Piskorczacy brothers. Dark-skinned Jumbo, a chauffeur of a diplomat who has just left Poland, joins the trio. The diplomat has given Jumbo a map with a hiding place where a large sum of money is stashed away. The characters decide to find the treasure, however their plans get complicated because of the outbreak of war. During the occupation Maniuś, the Piskorczacy brothers and Jumbo who hides dressed as a woman make a few attempts to get to the hiding place by using different tricks. Every time their plan ends up in a disaster. They eventually succeed on the day when the Warsaw Uprising breaks out. Unfortunately, the banknotes they find prove worthless and "Cafe pod Minogą" is destroyed by bomber aircrafts… Nevertheless, after Poland regains independence – for the time being – symbolically – the café is back on the map of Warsaw.

A great cast; characteristic actors are accompanied by the Polish film stars such as Adolf Dymsza.

Jumbo is played by Mokpokpo Dravi from Togo, wh, at that time, was a student of sociology at the University of Warsaw.

 


Crew:

director
Bronisław Brok
script
Bronisław Brok, Stefan Wiechecki "Wiech"
d.o.p.
Seweryn Kruszyński
designer
Roman Mann
costumes
Jerzy Szeski
editor
Czesław Raniszewski
music
Jerzy Wasowski
cast
Adolf Dymsza, Wacław Jankowski,
Włodzimierz Skoczylas, Feliks Chmurkowski,
Bolesław Płotnicki, Mokpokpo Dravi
Materials: SD
Length: 88’

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