Though the censorship was pitiless and even the smallest act of disobedience was quickly and brutally suppressed, many local directors tried to make a difference and fight back with what they did best - promoting resistance movements and making people throughout the country aware of their own nationality and all the values that come with it through judicious and stout-hearted filmmaking.
Movies that were strictly anti-communistic were deemed unwatchable by the GUKPPiW (the institution responsible for controlling and verifying all the official forms of communication in Poland, i.e. books, films, press, radio). The others, more subtle and covert, premiered in some cinemas with minor cuts, or if lucky, without any alterations whatsoever. Apart from a huge number of war-related dramas and films that based their core on deeply psychological aspects of the damaged Polish community, the ones that probably got the most attention were comedies.
These harsh satires on Communism and its weaknesses were like a dream come true for all the people who wanted to escape from their grim reality every once in a while by diving into the worlds offered via cinematic experiences. Some comedies simply made fun of the omnipresent absurdities of everyday life (often exaggerated, but for the right cause); others tried to appear as romantic predictions of the upcoming fall of an evil government. The most ironic fact about films made in the state known as the People's Republic of Poland is that what looks amusingly fictional to the modern viewer was downright authentic to the citizens that survived these difficult times.
An ambiguous parody of Communism, Rejs presents the story of a group of passengers that board a ship on the Vistula in order to take a cruise of a lifetime. The excursion reveals the truth about the passengers, their fears and desires, and then transforms it all into one big farce.
Full of slapstick situations and memorable catchphrases, Rejs almost instantly became a cult film. It's crucial to note that most of the actors here were amateurs, giving the film an impressive naturalistic vibe.
Often described as the best and most famous Polish comedy ever, Teddy Bear (Miś) denudes the shortcomings of the seemingly solid system of government. The story follows a sports club president who finds himself caught in a web of intrigue when he discovers that a few pages in his passport are missing and he can't travel abroad.
Many political allusions implied by the witty director Stanislaw Bareja surprisingly made the cut due to a change of the top officials of the ruling party when the film was supposed to open.
Poszukiwany, Poszukiwana includes by far the most impressive and the boldest tour de force performance by any PRL actor. Wojciech Pokora shines as Marysia, an art curator turned housekeeper accused of stealing a valuable painting. Disguised as a pretty lady, the man quickly climbs the ladder of success in a completely new environment. Memorable music, beautiful shots of Warsaw, and a lot of hilarious sequences provide for a fantastic movie.
This entry is actually about a trilogy directed by Sylwester Checinski - Sami swoi, Nie ma mocnych, Kochaj albo rzuc.
It's a splendidly comical take on two feuding families condemned to live close to each other, causing a series of many expressive, yet entirely amusing disputes. They fight, they make up, just to fight all over again. While the older members of the clans struggle, the younger ones fall in love with each other. It's also a fine take on Polish village life as seen through a distorting mirror. It's a true classic for all generations.
Vabank stands out from the crowd as it is not nearly as farcical as most of the titles on this list, though still just plain funny and engaging. It's a crime comedy on sophisticated revenge, which comes in the form of a perfectly planned bank heist. Without spoiling anything it's vital to note that the consequences of the event promise a notable bunch of mind-pleasing twists.
Without any spectacular special effects, Sexmission (Seksmisja) provides a science fiction experience of the highest sort. With a full-bodied story about two men who wake up in a world inhabited only by women, the film gained critical acclaim and became a cult classic for many Sci-fi fans.
This hilarious film is as pleasurable as it is controversial. Attentive viewers will find many hidden political allusions, some of which were the topic of a heated debate between the USSR officials and Polish censors.
How I Unleashed World War II (Jak rozpetalem druga wojne swiatowa), the story of an unlucky soldier named Franek Dolas, brought tears to the eyes of the whole country. Tears of joy, of course, as they watched the aforementioned protagonist struggle with the belief that he personally caused the World War II.
What started as a minor miscomprehension began to turn into a most tragic (and totally hilarious) change in action, landing our hero in more and more trouble. The film was originally divided into three parts, but is now available as a full feature.
Nie lubie poniedzialku (I Hate Mondays) is an ode to Warsaw and its many beautiful places. What's more, it's also another fantastic satirical, even surrealistic, take on the everyday nonsense that Polish citizens had to cope with. The film takes place on a seemingly peaceful Monday (and as the title cleverly implies, it's a day where nothing good ever happens) and puts an Italian traveler at the center of attention. While he runs around the city being mistaken for an honorary guest, he observes how the scary reality of life works in an Eastern European country.
Bogumil Kobiela stars as Jan Piszczyk, in the profoundly humorous philosophical comedy Bad Luck (Zezowate szczescie) about the life of a straightforward opportunist, whose every attempt at being politically and socially correct ends up hurting him physically or mentally.
A series of misfortune leads the protagonist on a wild journey towards self-discovery, as he gradually understands that relying on luck and opportunistic principles might not be the brightest choice.
A gipsy's prophecy begins a number of totally unexpected, and truly ludicrous occurrences that steer the main character's life into chaos, in this strictly satirical film called Brunet wieczorowa pora.
While he tries to omit the fate that's been thunderously set upon him, our hero accidentally drags himself deeper into an absurd story that involves lottery numbers, suitcase full of money, a lost watch and murder. It's one of the darkest comedies of PRL, with a haunting main theme, moody atmosphere, a little macabre, and lots of tropes taken straight out of the crime genre.