POLISH FILM ACADEMY

"Big Shar" was one of the biggest cinema hits in Poland in 1983 – it was seen by more than 2 million people and it was universally praised by reviewers, although in fact it is only well-made popular cinema. Still, it is the kind of film that audiences love, actors dream about, and the next generation of filmmakers aspire to. The secret of its success lies in the skills of the director (Sylwester Chęciński, an experienced filmmaker, best known as the author of the Kargul and Pawlak trilogy), the screenwriter (the excellent debut of Jan Purzycki), the cast (especially Jan Nowicki as the eponymous master cardshark, and Andrzej Pieczyński as his disciple), and finally the clever manipulation of the feelings of viewers, drawn into the plot almost involuntarily.

The film is set against the background of 1970s Poland, when people dreamed of a life less ordinary and grey, and when the upstart "elites" of that era thrived and enjoyed their lavish lifestyle. Using this as a backdrop, the authors paint the portrait of a loner and outsider, a little old-fashioned, a “winner with the stigma of defeat in his eyes," who, having chosen a unique and unlawful path in his youth, decides to seek out the meaning of life in honing his skills. But even more important in "Big Shar" is the kind of duel between the master and his disciple, the old wolf and the pup, the great conman tired of life, equipped with life wisdom, experience, and a distanced attitude, and the impatient youngster fascinated by his personality, hungry for success and money, feverish with a nascent addiction.

Big Shar, a card shark, ageing but still well-known in the right circles, is released from prison after five years and returns home, but his young and beautiful wife does not believe he can change. She suggests they divorce and divide their sizeable property.

In search of a quiet haven, Shar reaches the town of Lutyń, where he wants to take part in an auction of a house. A young taxi driver, Jurek, takes him to the master of ceremonies, a local tycoon named Mikun, who intends to acquire the auctioned property for himself. The visitor plays a game of billiards with him, losing a couple of thousand zlotys in the process. Satisfied, Mikun offers him a rematch in poker. He loses half a million zlotys. After the man leaves, Mikun calls another cardshark, a friend of his from Warsaw named Denel, asking him to win a rematch in his name.

Poker is also the lifelong passion of Jurek, who keeps pleading with Shar to teach him his secrets. The old master tries to dissuade the boy from following his hobby, but in the end agrees and gives Jurek his first lessons.

Denel, summoned by Mikun, refuses to play with Big Shar, not feeling strong enough to face such an opponent. Enraged, Mikun forces the cardshark to return the cash winnings. After the guest leaves, he realises that instead of banknotes he was handed pieces of paper, but the chase is unsuccessful.

Shar arrives in Wrocław accompanied by Jurek. The taxi driver begs the older man to reveal to him the secret that will make him a card master. Using Big Shar’s teachings, Jurek plays with two local scammers, taking everything from them. Meanwhile, Shar, who is resting by a swimming pool, is attacked by a man named Lipo who has some long-standing resentment. He is removed by hotel employees, but not before he vows revenge.

Drunk on his success, Jurek briefly loses sight of his master, but soon manages to find him. Convinced that he now possesses the secret, he asks Shar for help in organising a game against Denel. He takes a loan against his house and persuades his brother to steal a large sum from the sports club where he works. And then he loses everything. Was Shar in cahoots with Denel? After this decisive game, Big Shar is killed, while Jarek uses his last money to buy cigarettes and two new decks of cards...