POLISH FILM ACADEMY

Wajda's film shows the attitudes and behaviour of young people that would have been typical of the late 1950s. Being yourself is frowned upon. Cynicism and posing as cool observers of reality derives from the philosophy of existentialism fashionable at the time. The director ironically addresses the affectations hiding the true nature of man.

The title, Innocent Sorcerers, suggests that under the guise of cynicism, the young conceal sensitive hearts.

Andrzej, a young doctor, is working in a sports club. His passion is jazz. He plays the drums in an amateur band. He leads a typically consumerist lifestyle. He likes fashionable clothes, he has an Italian scooter. He often has one night stands with women. One evening at the Manekin nightclub, his friend Edmund notices a beautiful girl. On his initiative, Andrzej picks up the beautiful stranger. The girl gladly goes with the hero to his apartment. She is intelligent and playful. They begin a game of pretence. She introduces herself as Pelagia; he says that his name is Bazyli. They arrange a script for their night together.

First, a shot of vodka, then a kiss, then intellectual conversation, and the finale – bed.

They try to control their spontaneous mutual affection. They play a game of matches: the number of points depends on how skilfully they throw the matchbox. Pelagia loses. She can pay her dues by removing subsequent items of clothing. Andrzej, however, does not allow her to undress completely. In the morning, Pelagia lies down on the couch, but only to fall asleep immediately. A group of tipsy friends call Andrzej to come out of the apartment. When the man returns, he finds Pelagia gone. He looks for her all over the city. And then he begins to understand how important she is to him. After an hour, he finds the girl back at his place. He still pretends to be a cynical player. Pelagia says goodbye and leaves. On the stairs, however, she decides to come back.

Joanna Piątek, Leksykon polskich filmów fabularnych, Warszawa 1996