Soon to have its international premiere at the San Sebastian film festival, Marcin Wrona's The Christening (Chrzest) looks to be the sort of artful, relationship based spin on a crime thriller that drive voters wild come award time. In fact, the film already has been awarded, picking up multiple nods at Poland's Gdynia Film Festival. The first person I showed this to described it as equal parts Brothers and A History of Violence, which seems fair enough, but for those who want something more specific, here's how San Sebastian described it when announcing its selection:
The official synopsis spins things slightly differently, presenting the film like this:The script is loosely based on the real story of a man from the Polish provinces who, after operating as a criminal in his home town, finds himself in Warsaw. He hopes to change his luck and to escape from the criminal past he left behind. Unfortunately, there is a mafia sentence against him. Michal desperately tries to find a way to save his family. Several days before the christening of his child he invites his old friend to be the godfather. Second film from the director of My Flesh My Blood.
This all sounds interesting but the key is how it looks on screen and the answer is very good indeed. The first trailer has arrived in Poland and everything seems to be spot on from cinematography to music to performances to the integration of action. Very, very good indeed.Michał has what he always dreamed of: a beautiful wife named Magda, a newborn son, his own firm. He chooses an old friend, Janek, to be the godfather of his child. This is just the beginning of Michał's plan, who asks his friend to take an interest in his wife...
At the beginning the plan works out, but it becomes increasingly difficult for Michał to come to terms with it.
Michał knows his deeply hidden past will inevitably come back to him, and Janek will have to make a decision, of which he will never forget the consequences.