The "Day of the Wacko" has cult status in its homeland, but I first heard about it almost 20 years after its publication. I don't often laugh out loudly, while watching a film, but this was one of the few occasions. Dzień świra is definitely not a "knee-slapper". Is it a comedy or maybe rather an absurdist tragedy?
Adaś, the sad wacko, uses most of his energy to be irritated about his neighbors, actually everybody who crosses his OCD routines. His egoism could be enough for a minor village. While his relations with other people is -hm - problematic, he tries to relate to his son, who is not very intellectually gifted (fragment from their review of the English language: "To be, fuck it, or not to be"). Although he tries intensely to avoid disturbances, there seems to be a secret conspiration to make his day as bad as possible.
This film would lose when the plot would be retold. It would sound rather flat. It has to be seen as a whole, with every joke and hilarious idea. And what a firework it is. People outside Poland may not catch every allusion, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Marek Kondrat's deadpan acting is superb, the soundtrack - especially the distorted Chopin is brilliant. And the titles inform, that no dog was kicked during the making of the film. Essential viewing.
9/10
 |
A boring day in the neighbourhood
|
 |
TV informs about important affairs
|
 |
Mom's tomato soup is universal medicine
|
 |
Advertisements for several unusual products
|
 |
Evening Prayer
|
