“Quack” is the best Polish Netflix film. Emotions radiate from the screen [RECENZJA]

Marta Korycka: We had planned from the very beginning that we would do a double-voice for such an important premiere as “The Quack”. However, we will come out with a more “unified voice” because we are extremely unanimous: this is a great film. Therefore, instead of discussing, we will rather outdo each other in writing about what is good, although here – as always – we will find some minuses.

“Charlatan”. This is Netflix’s best Polish film so far

Justyna Bryczkowska: After the premiere of “The Quack”, it was the first time in our lives that we saw the audience applaud the film throughout the ENTIRE end credits and a long moment after them. Rightly so, because it is a fantastic, moving and original film, made with love and great sensitivity to the subject. And at the same time, it is a beautiful and classic melodrama in the best sense of the word. Really, it’s a terrible pity that the production can’t be released in cinemas all over Poland. Fortunately, it will be available to watch all over the world.

Marta: If I were to describe the Netflix production in one word, it would be: “emotions”. They radiate from the screen and appear in the viewer. And in moments that we would expect, because we know this story perfectly, and in surprising moments, because the creators did not make a simple remake.

Justyna: The new “Quack” is Netflix’s best Polish film so far. This is a delicious adaptation of an iconic production in Polish pop culture. It beautifully pays tribute to previous projects, and at the same time is a fully autonomous work. The plot contains the most important elements of the classic story, but boldly follows its own path and leads Professor Rafał Wilczur/Antoni Kosiba into new, very interesting areas. I also think that the film with Leszek Lichota in the main role will make millions of people from all over the world – not only from Poland – fall in love with Quack.

Marta: Lichota is the perfect Wilczur/Kosiba. Without taking anything away from Bińczyki, he was able to do something with the character with respect to that role. He sacrificed himself physically, grew his hair and beard and lost 10 kilograms, but he can also express incredibly nuanced emotions even with just his eyes. I liked it when the producer said that for her it was a story about a father and daughter relationship. The 1982 film focused primarily on the title character, but here the accents are spread more widely – on Marysia, and even other characters, all well cast. The scriptwriters skillfully showed in one scene why Wilczur and his daughter were separated for so many years.

‘The Quack’ (1982) frame from the film ‘Quack’ dir. Jerzy Hoffman / screen vod.tvp.pl

If you love “Quack” with Bińczycki, don’t be afraid of the new version

Justyna: Women in Michał Gazda’s “The Quack” were treated in a multidimensional way, as full-fledged characters. The director shows that without interaction with them, men would not be able to accomplish much. Marysia Kowalska as Marysia Wilczurówna is mesmerizing. It has something fresh, authentic, ephemeral, and at the same time it shows that it has character, an opinion of its own and can take care of itself. When I look at this young actress, I see a strong resemblance to the Hollywood star Blake Lively, but our Marysia radiates an additional aura.

Marta: It fits well into the 1930s, it has modern features that are not so striking that I feel like I’m doing something by force. Also my discovery of this cast, i.e. Anna Szymańczyk in the role of Zośka, the mill owner, combines the acting of the 21st century with the spirit of those times. She is so generous and homely, but she has a sensitivity that many contemporary viewers will identify with.

Justyna: This woman is a firecracker. She has charisma, strength, defiance, power and is fantastically distinctive. He seduces viewers with his personality. Zośka is feisty, outspoken, active and resourceful. When necessary, she responds in such a way that even the greatest intellectuals are targeted (her exchange with a local doctor after Marysia’s accident and surgery is pure gold). He has a lot of life wisdom and empathy, but he can’t be fooled.

Marta: In general, if I were to praise the casting director, I could simply go through the list of cast names from the first to the last position. Iza Kuna was given the role of a pompous countess and she did it in such a way that I fear for her safety on the streets when the film is released more widely. Mirosław Haniszewski is excellent as Dr. Dobraniecki, who is definitely closer to the book’s original – a slippery careerist – than to the one played by Piotr Fronczewski in Jerzy Hoffman’s film adaptation. Ignacy Liss as the spoiled Master Czyński, completely ignorant of the real world…

Justyna: … whom Marysia turns into a man, he is charming. Their on-screen chemistry is not only believable, but downright endearing. They have a lot of charm that makes them pleasant to look at and makes you root for them more and more.

Marta: Even in the accident scene, which in my opinion was (sic!) technically a bit weak. And Łukasz Szczepanowski as Michał and Mikołaj Grabowski as the count’s father are also great… And, really, every even smaller role is miodzio.

Leszek Lichota in the film ‘Quack’ on Netflix Bartosz Mrozowski / Netflix

Justyna: Ewa Szykulska as a Warsaw medicine woman is so witchy! There are a lot of charming tidbits here, and Artur Barciś, as the Czyński family’s butler, beautifully connects two important film adaptations.

Netflix tensed up with “The Quack”, but it still didn’t take care of everything. “If anything went wrong, it was the hair”

Marta: From the very first scene, the creators do not so much wink at the viewer as spell out: this is not a remake of Hoffman’s film. They beautifully change threads that many people know almost by heart, and yet they come back to them once again in the film with Bińczycki, Dymna and Stockinger. I think I will be happy to watch both of these versions – as Grażyna Torbicka nicely said at the premiere, it’s not about replacing the previous film, but about discussions, comparing the perfect with the perfect.

Still from the movie ‘Quack’ Bartosz Mrozowski/Netflix

Justyna: I really like the scriptwriters’ idea of ​​how to play the famous court scene in which those gathered in the courtroom learn that “Ladies and gentlemen, your honor, this is Professor Rafał Wilczur.” Perhaps shockingly, in this version it doesn’t rain at all! And that’s very good. They did it their own way, and I dare say that this way is more touching and significant for the relationships between the characters.

Marta: There’s a lot of emotion here. I admit that I didn’t expect it, but tears flowed down my cheeks several, or maybe a dozen times during the screening. They were tears of all kinds – also tears of joy, relief, and not just sadness. For two and a half hours that don’t really feel like it, I also had a good laugh.

Justyna: I cringed a bit at the sight of the individual wigs, especially the one Marysia wore after the accident. If I were to say that something went wrong here, it would be the hair of some characters. But this is a minor issue, because, for example, the film music is delightful, complementing the narrative very effectively and intensifying the entire emotional message. Everything here is truly refined, well-kept and checked. The director told me that they had consultants for everything, even flour. As a result, the new “Quack” is like a warm blanket that you can wrap yourself in when you feel bad. I already know that this is a production that I will happily return to many, many times.

Marta: Finally, let’s appreciate the beautiful photos – especially the Radoliszki near Radoliskie, and the elements of Masovian folk music woven into the film, and the costumes, and… we could go on and on. But we prefer that you finish reading this text and use the time to watch “The Quack”. It’s worth it, very worth it.