GOD’S FINGER [1972]
year:
- 1972
release date:
- 3 VII 1973
runtime:
- 88 min
directed by:
- Antoni Krauze
written by:
- Antoni Krauze based on the novel by Tadeusz Zawierucha
director of photography:
- Jan Hesse
cast:
- Marian Opania [Tadeusz Kasprzak], Aleksander Benczak [Bolesław Kasprzak], Grażyna Chęcińska [Grażyna Cyganiewicz], Janusz Zaorski [Alfred Cyganiewicz], Maciej Englert [Andrzej, a psychiatric patient], Henryk Hunko [a stove fitter], Kazimierz Iwiński [chairman of the examination board], Celina Klimczak [Tadeusz’s mother], Wiesława Kosmalska, Zygmunt Malawski [president], Izabella Pieńkowska [Irka, father’s lover], Jerzy Przybylski [an actor], Jerzy Przybylski [homeless philosopher], Magda Teresa Wójcik [manager of the choir]
edited by:
- Janina Niedźwiecka
music by:
- Zygmunt Konieczny
production design:
- Jerzy Groszang
produced by:
- Studio Filmowe „Tor
executive producer:
- Wojciech Karmoliński
awards:
-
• I International Meeting of Cinema "Youth on the Screen" 1973: Jantar for best screenplay, best performance award for Marian Opania, Journalists’ Award
•Andrzej Munk Award 1973 for Antoni Krauze
• Lubusz Film Summer Łagów 1974: Honorable Mention for best performance for Marian Opania, Special Jury Prize, award of the Coordinating Arts Council of Art-house Cinemas
• IFF Locarno (Switzerland) 1974: Second Prize
About the film
Tadeusz Kasprzak, a young boy from the provinces, dreams of a career in acting. He takes an exam for drama school, but he is not accepted. Talking to an old actor makes him realise how difficult this profession is. Tadeusz does not give up. He decides to stay in the city. He joins an amateur troupe to better prepare for the next exam. There, he meets Alfred and his wife, Grażyna. The meeting turns into friendship and the boy goes to live with them. The next exam also ends in failure. Tadeusz leaves Alfred’s apartment. Going through a tough time, he still works in the amateur artistic movement. He visits village theatres and meets sensitive people, watching the hopeless misery of life in the provinces. Despite being over the age limit, he decides to take the exam for the third time.
Faced with an atmosphere of indifference and cynicism from the examination board, Tadeusz breaks down mentally and causes a scene. It is the end of his dreams of a career as an actor. He goes to get psychiatric treatment. He still frequents theatre artists’ circles. His new friend, Andrzej, playing the role of Oedipus, actually gouges out his own eyes in reality. Tadeusz is completely devastated. He leaves acting. He goes back to Alfred, but he is in a hospital, seriously ill. In his mind he sees a friend who escapes from the hospital to meet him. When he calls the hospital, he learns that Alfred is dead. Tadeusz decides to stay with Grażyna, who is in a deep depression after the death of her husband.
Waldemar Piątek, Leksykon polskich filmów fabularnych, Warszawa 1996
