Prawo i pięść
Encyclopedia
Prawo i pięść is a Polish
1964 drama film
directed by Jerzy Hoffman
and Edward Skórzewski. Based on a novel by Józef Hen, the film achieved cult status
in the history of Polish cinema
.
The film is set in 1945, immediately after the end of World War II
. It tells a story of Andrzej Kenig (portrayed by Gustaw Holoubek
), a former fighter of the Polish resistance
and survivor of a German concentration camp. He is sent with a small group of men as government representatives to a small fictional town of Siwowo/Graustadt in the so-called Regained Lands, the new Western Territories of Poland. Their task is to secure the property left there by the retreating Germans. The small town is mostly abandoned and the only remaining inhabitants are four women and a drunken waiter in the hotel. Upon reaching the town, Kenig discovers that the other members of the government delegation are not who they claim to be and that their only task is to loot as much of the property as they can for themselves. Kenig decides to fight against the gang of bandits alone. There is a shootout on the roofs and in the streets of the deserted town.
The motive of a lone hero fighting against a group of villains resulted in the film being often described as a "Polish western".
The film is also well-remembered because of the original score written by Krzysztof Komeda
, and especially the highly-popular title song Gdy wstanie dzień (Until the day breaks) with music by Komeda, lyrics written by Agnieszka Osiecka
and performed by Edmund Fetting
.
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...
1964 drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Jerzy Hoffman
Jerzy Hoffman
Jerzy Hoffman is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He is the father of early Macintosh development team member Joanna Hoffman.-Selected filmography:*Battle of Warsaw 1920...
and Edward Skórzewski. Based on a novel by Józef Hen, the film achieved cult status
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...
in the history of Polish cinema
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....
.
The film is set in 1945, immediately after the end of World War II
World 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...
. It tells a story of Andrzej Kenig (portrayed by Gustaw Holoubek
Gustaw Holoubek
Gustaw Holoubek was a Polish actor, director, member of the Polish Sejm, and a senator.Holoubek participated in the September Campaign and was a prisoner of war during the Nazi German Occupation of Poland...
), a former fighter of the Polish resistance
Polish resistance movement in World War II
The Polish resistance movement in World War II, with the Home Army at its forefront, was the largest underground resistance in all of Nazi-occupied Europe, covering both German and Soviet zones of occupation. The Polish defence against the Nazi occupation was an important part of the European...
and survivor of a German concentration camp. He is sent with a small group of men as government representatives to a small fictional town of Siwowo/Graustadt in the so-called Regained Lands, the new Western Territories of Poland. Their task is to secure the property left there by the retreating Germans. The small town is mostly abandoned and the only remaining inhabitants are four women and a drunken waiter in the hotel. Upon reaching the town, Kenig discovers that the other members of the government delegation are not who they claim to be and that their only task is to loot as much of the property as they can for themselves. Kenig decides to fight against the gang of bandits alone. There is a shootout on the roofs and in the streets of the deserted town.
The motive of a lone hero fighting against a group of villains resulted in the film being often described as a "Polish western".
The film is also well-remembered because of the original score written by Krzysztof Komeda
Krzysztof Komeda
Krzysztof Komeda was a Polish film music composer and jazz pianist. Perhaps best-known for his work in film scores, Komeda wrote the scores for Roman Polanski’s films Rosemary’s Baby, The Fearless Vampire Killers, Knife in the Water and Cul-de-sac...
, and especially the highly-popular title song Gdy wstanie dzień (Until the day breaks) with music by Komeda, lyrics written by Agnieszka Osiecka
Agnieszka Osiecka
Agnieszka Osiecka She was a poet, writer, author of theatre and television screenplays, film director and journalist...
and performed by Edmund Fetting
Edmund Fetting
Edmund Fetting was a Polish movie and theatrical actor and occasional singer.Fetting was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Gold Cross of Merit ....
.