Hydrozagadka
Encyclopedia
Hydrozagadka is a Polish
superhero
comedy film. During a summer heat wave, all the water in Warsaw
is puzzlingly disappearing. Scientists secretly call upon As (Ace
), a superhero who passes his days living as a mild-mannered engineer, to try to solve the mystery. The movie was ostensibly created as a Communist
parody
of the American
ideals glorified in Superman
and other superhero films, however Polish audiences instead felt the film humorously parodied aspects of Polish life under Communist rule
, such as the many slogan
s for a "better life."
Hydrozagadka premiered on April 30, 1971 on Polish television
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
comedy film. During a summer heat wave, all the water in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
is puzzlingly disappearing. Scientists secretly call upon As (Ace
Ace
An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...
), a superhero who passes his days living as a mild-mannered engineer, to try to solve the mystery. The movie was ostensibly created as a Communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ideals glorified in Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and other superhero films, however Polish audiences instead felt the film humorously parodied aspects of Polish life under Communist rule
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
, such as the many slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
s for a "better life."
Hydrozagadka premiered on April 30, 1971 on Polish television
Television in Poland
Television in Poland was introduced in 1937. It was state owned, and was interrupted by the Second World War in 1939. Television returned to Poland in 1951 and for several decades was controlled by the communist government. Colour television was introduced in Poland in 1971...
.
Cast
- Jan Walczak/As - Józef Nowak
- Professor Milczarek - Wiesław Michnikowski
- Maharaja of Kabur - Roman KłosowskiRoman Kłosowski-Biography:A graduate of the National School of Drama in Warsaw he made his debut on stage in the play Szczęście Frania by Włodzimierz Perzyński. From 1955 he made many appearances in Warsaw Dramatic Theater...
- Doctor Spot (Doktor Plama) - Zdzisław Maklakiewicz
- The Little - Bolesław Kamiński
- Sailor - Franciszek PieczkaFranciszek PieczkaFranciszek Pieczka is a Polish film and stage actor. A graduate of the Theatrical Academy in Warsaw, he first made his debut in the theatre in Jelenia Góra...
- tracing man - Wojciech PokoraWojciech PokoraWojciech Pokora is a Polish actor. He has made over 40 appearances in film and television. He starred in the 1986-1987 television series Zmiennicy.-External links:...
- waitress - Iga CembrzyńskaIga CembrzynskaIga Cembrzyńska, born Maria Elżbieta Cembrzyńska, also known as Iga Cembrzyńska-Kondratiuk is a Polish actress. She is also screenwriter, composer, film director and producer - she runs her own film company Iga Film....
- florist - Wiesława MazurkiewiczWiesława MazurkiewiczWiesława Mazurkiewicz is a Polish actress. In 1974 she starred in the Academy Award nominated film The Deluge under Jerzy Hoffman.-References:...
- Miss Jola - Ewa Szykulska
- translator - Jerzy Dobrowolski
- Frątczak - Jerzy DuszyńskiJerzy DuszyńskiJerzy Duszyński was one of the most popular actors in a post-war Poland. He starred in a number of film productions as well as theatrical plays.-Biography:...
- taxi driver - Wiesław Gołas
- tracing man - Czesław Lasota
- Walczak's friend - Wojciech Rajewski
- crossing keeper - Jerzy TurekJerzy TurekJerzy Turek was a Polish actor and performer. Turek was born on January 17, 1934, in the eastern village of Tchórzowa. He died on February 14, 2010, in Warsaw at the age of 76.-External links:*...
- Walczak's friend - Witold SkaruchWitold SkaruchWitold Skaruch was a Polish character actor and director. He appeared in films, television shows and miniseries from 1953 until 2009....
- waggoner - Andrzej Kondratiuk
Crew
- Director - Andrzej Kondratiuk
- Writing credits - Andrzej Kondratiuk, Andrzej Bonarski
- Cinematography - Zygmunt Samosiuk
- Music - Waldemar KazaneckiWaldemar Kazanecki-Biography:Waldemar Kazanecki began as a music editor on Polish Radio in 1954 and later became a pianist in the Jerzy Harald Orchestra. Kazanecki began composing for movies with the film Hrabina Cosel, in 1966. In 1975 he produced the score for Nights and Days , Jerzy Antczak's Academy...
- Scenography - Jarosław Świtoniak
- Filmsetting - Jadwiga Zajicek
- Costumes - Joanna Radzka, Alicja Ptaszyńska
- Executive producer - Jerzy Rutowicz