The Moth

(Ćma)


1980   >   psychological/ drama

A moving picture showing the work of a night radio show host, the problems of his listeners – a kind of review of desperate characters seeking another man’s helping hand. The film shows a very dense and dark atmosphere, is full of semi-darkness and chiaroscuro effects, colors are replaced with different shades of grey. A super performance of Roman Wilhelmi.

Jan is a radio journalist hosting a night show in which he answers calls from listeners, most of whom need reassurance, psychological support or just a keen listener. He works at night and spends his days interchangeably with his wife Justyna and lover Magda. After the show ends, he goes to Magda in the morning. Being tired and having quarreled with Magda, he sleeps the whole day and in the evening he makes it to the studio at the very last moment. His show becomes more and more popular and Jan’s involvement in his work makes his wife – Justyna rebuke him. She even tries to persuade a friend from the radio to take the night show away from Jan. Listeners’ acclaim leads to worsening of relations with envious colleagues. An upset colleague accuses the journalist of touching upon imaginary problems during the show and lack of valuable advice. The lover – Magda starts seeing another man. Working at night and complicated personal life cause Jan’s personality to disintegrate. He seeks psychiatric help and is diagnosed with acute stress disorder. All the doctor recommends him is to get some rest. The journalists’ condition deteriorates even further. During the next show he starts singing and playing the piano, after which the program is interrupted and Jan ends up in a sanatorium. He comes back after a few months, smiling and easy going. He’s no longer the same Jan. 

 


Crew:

director
Tomasz Zygadło
script
Tomasz Zygadło
d.o.p.
Jacek Zygadło
designer
Janusz Sosnowski
editor
Mirosława Garlicka
music
Jan Kanty Pawluśkiewicz
cast
Roman Wilhelmi, Anna Seniuk,
Iwona Bielska, Nela Obarska,
Jerzy Trela, Grzegorz Heromiński

Awards:

PFFF, Gdynia
Best actor in a leading role (Roman Wilhelmi)
Lublin
Second prize (International Film Forum Man- Work- Creativity)
IFF, Moscow
Best Actor (Roman Wilhelmi)
IFF, Moscow
Russian Journalists Award (Roman Wilhelmi)
IFF, Figueira da Foz
Silver Medal
Materials: SD
Length: 100’

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