Interrogation (film)
Encyclopedia
Interrogation is a 1982 Polish
crime film
directed by Ryszard Bugajski
. Due to its anti-communist themes, the Polish communist government banned the film from public viewing for over seven years, until the 1989 dissolution of the Eastern Bloc
allowed it to see the light of day. The film had its first theatrical release in December 1989 in its native Poland, and was entered into the 1990 Cannes Film Festival
where Krystyna Janda won the award for Best Actress
and the film itself was nominated for the Palme d'Or
.
Despite the movie's controversial initial reception and subsequent banning, it nevertheless garnered a cult fanbase
through the circulation of illegally taped VHS copies, which director Ryszard Bugajski secretly helped to leak out to the general public.
Stalinist Poland. She is arrested, without being told why, and placed in a political prison to be interrogated
. Over a course of several years, she is humiliated and tortured by prison officials into confessing to other crimes she did not commit. After failing to sign a document detailing a false confession, she is taken to the prison shower block and locked into a small cage between the floor. The water is turned on and the room is slowly flooded. She is released at the last moment, and forced to sign the confession form again, which she continues to refuse to do so. Whilst in prison, she demands that she sees her husband. One day he visits the prison, and is told of her alleged one-night stand prior to her arrest, and he tells her that he doesn't want to see her again. She unsuccessfully attempts suicide. She develops a romantic relationship with one of the prison officials, becomes pregnant by him, and is forced to give up her child for adoption, before eventually being released.
Cinema of Poland
The history of cinema in Poland is almost as long as history of cinematography, and it has universal achievements, even though Polish movies tend to be less commercially available than movies from several other European nations....
crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Ryszard Bugajski
Ryszard Bugajski
Ryszard Bugajski is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He has directed 23 films and television shows since 1972. His film Interrogation was entered into the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
. Due to its anti-communist themes, the Polish communist government banned the film from public viewing for over seven years, until the 1989 dissolution of the Eastern Bloc
Eastern bloc
The term Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc refers to the former communist states of Eastern and Central Europe, generally the Soviet Union and the countries of the Warsaw Pact...
allowed it to see the light of day. The film had its first theatrical release in December 1989 in its native Poland, and was entered into the 1990 Cannes Film Festival
1990 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Bernardo Bertolucci *Alexei Guerman *Anjelica Huston *Bertrand Blier *Christopher Hampton*Fanny Ardant *Françoise Giroud *Hayao Shibata *Mira Nair *Sven Nykvist...
where Krystyna Janda won the award for Best Actress
Best Actress Award (Cannes Film Festival)
The Best Actress Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of films at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.-Award Winners:-External links:* * ....
and the film itself was nominated for the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
.
Despite the movie's controversial initial reception and subsequent banning, it nevertheless garnered a cult fanbase
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
through the circulation of illegally taped VHS copies, which director Ryszard Bugajski secretly helped to leak out to the general public.
Synopsis
Tonia (Krystyna Janda) is a cabaret singer in post-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Stalinist Poland. She is arrested, without being told why, and placed in a political prison to be interrogated
Interrogation
Interrogation is interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the police, military, and Intelligence agencies with the goal of extracting a confession or obtaining information. Subjects of interrogation are often the suspects, victims, or witnesses of a crime...
. Over a course of several years, she is humiliated and tortured by prison officials into confessing to other crimes she did not commit. After failing to sign a document detailing a false confession, she is taken to the prison shower block and locked into a small cage between the floor. The water is turned on and the room is slowly flooded. She is released at the last moment, and forced to sign the confession form again, which she continues to refuse to do so. Whilst in prison, she demands that she sees her husband. One day he visits the prison, and is told of her alleged one-night stand prior to her arrest, and he tells her that he doesn't want to see her again. She unsuccessfully attempts suicide. She develops a romantic relationship with one of the prison officials, becomes pregnant by him, and is forced to give up her child for adoption, before eventually being released.
Cast
- Krystyna Janda as Antonina 'Tonia' Dziwisz
- Adam FerencyAdam FerencyAdam Ferency is a Polish actor. He has appeared in over 70 films and televisison shows since 1976. He starred in the 1990 film Burial of a Potato, which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival....
as Lieutenant Morawski - Janusz GajosJanusz GajosJanusz Gajos is a Polish actor.He graduated in 1965 from the National Film School in Łódź as one of its best students despite having been rejected during entrance exams for three times. He debuted while he was still in film school in children's film Panienka z okienka in 1964...
as Major Zawada "Kapielowy" - Agnieszka HollandAgnieszka HollandAgnieszka Holland is a Polish film and TV director and screenwriter. Best recognized for her highly political contributions to Polish cinema, Holland is one of Poland's most prominent filmmakers.-Personal life:...
as Communist Witkowska - Anna RomantowskaAnna RomantowskaAnna Romantowska is a Polish film and theatre actress.She has been married to the Polish actor and director Krzysztof Kolberger as well as the Polish radio presenter, disc jockey, director, screenwriter and producer Jacek Bromski...
as Miroslawa "Mira" Szejnert - Bozena DykielBozena DykielBożena Dykiel is a well-known Polish actress.- Filmography includes:* Na Wspólnej* Wszyscy jesteśmy Chrystusami* Dylematu 5* Alternatywy 4* Ziemia obiecana* Wyjscie Awaryjne...
as Honorata - Olgierd Lukaszewicz as Konstanty Dziwisz (Tonia's husband)
Awards
| Festival | Category | Winner/Nominee | Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival 1990 Cannes Film Festival - Jury :*Bernardo Bertolucci *Alexei Guerman *Anjelica Huston *Bertrand Blier *Christopher Hampton*Fanny Ardant *Françoise Giroud *Hayao Shibata *Mira Nair *Sven Nykvist... |
Best Actress Best Actress Award (Cannes Film Festival) The Best Actress Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of films at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.-Award Winners:-External links:* * .... |
Krystyna Janda | Yes |
| Palme d'Or Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du... |
Ryszard Bugajski Ryszard Bugajski Ryszard Bugajski is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He has directed 23 films and television shows since 1972. His film Interrogation was entered into the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:... |
No | |
| Chicago International Film Festival Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America.... |
Silver Hugo | Ryszard Bugajski | Yes |
| European Film Awards | Best Actress | Krystyna Janda | No |
| Best Film | Janusz Morgenstern Janusz Morgenstern Janusz "Kuba" Morgenstern was a Polish film director and producer.Janusz Morgenstern was born in 1922 to a Jewish family in the village of Mikulińce near Tarnopol , to Dawid Morgenstern and Estera .He debuted as a director with the film Goodbye, See You Tomorrow... |
No | |
| Best Screenwriter | Ryszard Bugajski, Janusz Dymek | No | |
| Polish Film Festival Polish Film Festival The Polish Film Festival is an annual film festival first held in Gdańsk, now held in Gdynia, Poland.... |
Best Actor | Janusz Gajos Janusz Gajos Janusz Gajos is a Polish actor.He graduated in 1965 from the National Film School in Łódź as one of its best students despite having been rejected during entrance exams for three times. He debuted while he was still in film school in children's film Panienka z okienka in 1964... |
Yes |
| Best Actress | Krystyna Janda | Yes | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Anna Romantowska Anna Romantowska Anna Romantowska is a Polish film and theatre actress.She has been married to the Polish actor and director Krzysztof Kolberger as well as the Polish radio presenter, disc jockey, director, screenwriter and producer Jacek Bromski... |
Yes | |
| Special Jury Prize | Ryszard Bugajski | Yes | |