At the end of January 2022, a biographical film directed by Michał Węgrzyn debuted on the big screens. Its plot focused entirely on the life and political career of Edward Gierek, who served as the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party in the years 1970-1980. The title character was played by , and at his side appeared such stars as Małgorzata Kożuchowska, Jan Frycz, Agnieszka Więdłocha, , Rafał Zawierucha, Antoni Pawlicki, Sebastian Stankiewicz and Ewa Ziętek. However, this did not protect the creators from criticism, which fell on them even before the premiere.
The creators of “Gierek” are under fire. Reviewers have slammed them
“Gierek” was loudly promoted in the media as a production that openly presented the life story of the main character. Was it really so, and did viewers notice these “hidden messages”? Opinions are strongly divided. However, it is certain that the film did not cause such a sensation as was predicted. True, according to statistics, it attracted over 320 thousand viewers to cinemas, but the reviews left much to be desired. It was particularly harshly assessed by critics, the average of 26 ratings they gave on the Filmweb portal is only 2.4 out of 10.
It’s like watching an amateur theater performing a play written by a soap opera writer. Anachronism hand in hand with untruth, tastelessness in the arms of talentlessness.
– he summed up bluntly, and his opinion was echoed by, among others, Jakub Majurek, who wrote that the plot was “unfunny cabaret and conspiracy theories”, as well as Karolina Korwin-Piotrowska, who called “Gierek” simply “a big bluff in a kitschy and weak style”. Although viewers were a bit more gracious, rating the film 4.7 stars, their opinions were also full of bitter words and misunderstanding.
There is a series about Edward Gierek. It is an extended version of the film with Koterski as a politician
The negative opinions clearly did not discourage the creators, because the story of Edward Gierek returned to the screens, this time in the form of a series. – Now the film “Gierek” is even more relevant than on the day of its premiere – convinced some time ago producer Janusz Iwanowski. – In the film we showed how Moscow-Russians, including their secret services, treat neighboring countries such as Poland, i.e. as their own private farm. And for decades, they like us the most when we are ruled by “Yanukovychs”, here in the uniforms of the Polish People’s Army and, if necessary, they plot with them against the interests of the country – he said, encouraging viewers to watch the screening.
The 4-episode production is, according to information available online, an extension of the film and focuses on the fate of the politician from the moment he took over as secretary until his arrest in 1982. Węgrzyn was again the director, and the main roles were played by the same actors who appeared in the original. is available in the Premium package of the Box Go streaming platform from July 5, 2024. If you’d like, please vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
