The Polish-Ruthenian War Under the White and Red Flag” is a film based on the novel by Dorota Masłowska, which caused quite a stir in the literary world. The book quickly became a bestseller, and the author has been awarded several nationally recognized awards. Admired for the language, innovation and an extraordinary sense of observation. On the other hand, however, there were also many opponents, who did not fully understand and share the description used by the young novelist. For the truth is this, that you can either love the book, or not endure. Such a dichotomy in reception only helped to promote the novel, which was hotly debated.
Few, however, suspected, that "Polish-Russian War" can be filmed. I must admit it, that the literary escapades of the author were extremely unbridled: cliché plot combined with a lush narrative, descriptions of various types of mental states "under the influence" of various intoxicants and descriptions of events, which do not happen to the average Pole every day. And yet…
Xawery Żuławski directed "The Polish-Russian War..." in an extremely original and also - as in the case of the book - quite controversial. And there is no denying his ingenuity, but also an extraordinary sense, because it is not easy to adapt a book to a screen and do it in a completely autonomous way. It is extremely difficult to describe the plot of the film, because, in fact, it consists of a series of episodes that are unrelated in cause and effect, which can be compared to successive film frames showing a single event. The action, of course, takes place in the estate, among the blocks, between which gentlemen in their tracksuits and ladies in skimpy skirts walk. Strong is the main ringleader in the area, played by Borys Szyc. When we meet him he has some problems with his girlfriend Magda (Roma Gasiorowska). The scene of the argument between them in a local bar is preserved in so many comic books, beautifully captured by the camera. Strong, He meets several completely different women on his way, which briefly introduces him to their strange worlds. The man meets Angela (Maria Strzelecki), who is a young poet, looking like a gothic night spirit, with a very pessimistic view of the world. On the same day, his good friend Natasza Blokus appears at the house of Silny (Sonia Bohosiewicz), a strong woman of unusual dimensions, addicted to… smelling powdered soups. Together they plan to rob Zdzisław Sztorm, owner of a sand factory. The next day of Strong is associated with participation in the city festival, during which he meets Alicia, girl from a good home. He takes her to her apartment, where using the hospitality of a newly met friend, eats the entire supply of painkillers.
And so begins a series of events similar to the dreams of a madman. On the night bus, Strong on the edge of consciousness, meets an old friend of Leo's, with whom they have a "fight" near the night shop. It ends with a visit to the police station, where they are interrogated by Dorota Masłowska herself. It turns out then, that everything we've witnessed so far, is only the result of the imagination of a writer - a policewoman. Everything and nothing really happened. It is not known, what will be the end, because anything can happen. Strong is in a real trap. never like, is it his life, Is it just a madman's dream?. It is very telling and yet one of the best scenes in the movie, autothematic in nature. It presents the relationship of the authors to the characters, as well as characters, that are dependent on their "creators". In a way, it also describes the relationship between the book and the film and how these two independent artistic creations interpenetrate.
Strong consequently goes to the hospital, where, unfortunately, he will have to say goodbye to his exciting life. Goes to hell, that is, in this case, a television studio, in which he is the main guest of the talk show, during which he is to tell his story, arousing emotions in the audience.
The description of individual scenes, however, will always be only a certain attempt to outline the events. Because you can't do this "fast driving without holding hands", offered by the authors of the films, give in simple words. Undoubtedly, however, the film is a novelty on the Polish market. Filmed with an idea and concept, and additionally extremely vividly complementing the literary presentation. Form film, although extremely lush and sometimes exaggerated, It certainly didn't overshadow the content. More sensitive and careful observers will surely notice, that Strong, not as strong as he thinks, and the world seen through the eyes of a tracksuit is not always so unambiguous.
