THE DEBT [1999]
year:
- 1999
release date:
- 19 XI 1999
runtime:
- 97 min
directed by:
- Krzysztof Krauze
written by:
- Krzysztof Krauze, Jerzy Morawski
director of photography:
- Bartosz Prokopowicz
cast:
- Robert Gonera [Adam Borecki], Jacek Borcuch [Stefan Kowalczyk], Andrzej Chyra [Gerard Nowak], Cezary Kosiński [Tadeusz Frei], Joanna Szurmiej [Basia, Adam’s fiancee], Agnieszka Warchulska [Jola, Stefan’s girlfriend], Joanna Kurowska [Ania, a pregnant woman], Sławomira Łozińska [Adam’s mother], Krzysztof Gordon [Adam’s father], Przemysław Modliszewski [Kid], Maria Robaszkiewicz [Basia’s mother], Edyta Bach [Joanna, Adam’s sister], Jakub Bach [Jurek, Adam’s nephew], Ewa Kania [head of the loan operations], ], Katarzyna Trzcińska [Gerard’s wife]
edited by:
- Krzysztof Szpetmański
music by:
- Michał Urbaniak
production design:
- Magdalena Dipont
produced by:
- Studio Filmowe „Zebra”, Canal+ Polska, ITI Cinema
producer:
- Juliusz Machulski
awards:
-
- Polish Film Festival Gdynia 1999: Grand Prix for the best male actor in a leading role for Andrzej Chyra, award for best music for Michał Urbaniak , the Journalist Award
- Warsaw Mermaid 1999
- Recent Polish Cinema Festival Wrocław 1999: Grand Prix, award for the best male actor in a leading role for Robert Gronera, award for the best debut for Andrzej Chyra , honorary mention for cinematography for Bartosz Prokopowicz
- "Polityka” Passport in 2000 for Krzysztof Krauze
- Lubusz Film Summer Lagow 2000: the Juliusz Burski Organizers Award Machiner 2000
- Polish Film Award Eagle 2000: best picture, best director, best screenplay, best male actor in a leading role (Robert Gonera), best supporting actor (Andrzej Chyra) , nominations for director of photography, set design, music, editing, and producer
- Tarnów Film Award 2000: Leliwita Silver Statuette, Youth Jury Award , Audience Award
- National Festival of Film "Prowincjonalia" September 2000 Grand Prix Jańcio Wodnik, Jańcio Wodnik formusic for Michał Urbaniak
- Golden Reel 2000 (ex aequo with Andrzej Wajda’s Pan Tadeusz)
- IFF Philadelphia (USA ) 2001: best director award for Krzysztof Krauze
About the film
The film was a triumph at the festival in Gdynia in 1999. Critics found The Debt to be the first artistically mature and shocking depiction of Polish reality after 1989. The drama, based on a true story and firmly rooted in reality, is a harrowing portrayal of helplessness in the face of violence. The young actors gave vivid, haunting and psychologically profound performances. Unanimously recognised as the best film of the year, it sparked a wave of debates on the effectiveness of the Polish judicial system.
Adam, who is expecting a baby with his fiancée, Basia, stops building their house. Through an old-time friend, Gerard, Stefan finds a guarantor for the loan, but Gerard requests an exorbitant commission. The young businessmen resign. However, Gerard requests to be reimbursed for his alleged expenses. He turns out to be a professional debt collector. He beats Adam up but he does not want to pay. Stefan decides that the best option would be to pay Gerard. Gerard says that the banknotes he has been given are false. He demands a much larger amount. Adam learns that Stefan sold their contract in exchange for the money to pay back Gerard. The friends and partners part in anger. Adam finds a job in a restaurant and moves out of the house; Stefan is employed as a chauffeur. Gerard and his bodyguard do not cease harassing them. They blackmail them, beat them, fake their executions, threaten to kill their families, and force Stefan to give away his own house and passport. Basia loses the baby due to a miscarriage and leaves Adam. Tadeusz, a colleague with whom Adam is hiding, explains to him and Stefan that the only solution to this horror will be the death of the persecutor. Gerard and his bodyguard are killed. To remove all traces, their heads are cut off from the bodies and thrown into the river, where they are found by the police several days later. Stefan wants to flee abroad. Adam confesses the truth to Basia. The loving girl urges him to flee, but the killer, tormented by remorse, reports it to the police.
