VABANK [1981]
year:
- 1981
release date:
- 1 III 1982
runtime:
- 104 min
directed by:
- Juliusz Machulski
written by:
- Juliusz Machulski
director of photography:
- Jerzy Łukaszewicz
cast:
- Jan Machulski [Henryk Kwinto], Leonard Pietraszak [Gustaw Kramer], Witold Pyrkosz [Duńczyk], Ewa Szykulska [Marta Rychlińska], Krzysztof Kiersznowski [Nuta], Zdzisław Kuźniar [Krempitsch], Józef Para [Commissary Przygoda], Elżbieta Zającówna [Natalia, Moks’s girfriend], Jacek Chmielnik [Moks], Zofia Charewicz [Kwinto’s wife], Henryk Bista [Jan Rożek], Janusz Michałowski [Commissary Karelicki], Leon Niemczyk [a jeweller], Włodzimierz Musiał [Adam Szpulski Szpula]
edited by:
- Mirosława Garlicka
music by:
- Henryk Kuźniak
production design:
- Jerzy Skrzepiński
produced by:
- Studio Filmowe „Kadr”
executive producer:
- Andrzej Sołtysik
awards:
-
• Debut Film Festival "The Young and the Cinema" 1981: Jury Award
• Polish Feature Film Festival Gdansk 1982: award for directing a debut or a second feature film for Juliusz Machulski
• IFF Karlovy Vary (Czechoslovakia) 1982: Award of the Central Committee of the Socialist Youth Union
• IF of Crime Films Manila (Philippines) 1982: Special Award
• IFF Cattolica (Italy) 1982: Grand Prix
• Vavey Comedy Film Festival (Switzerland) 1982: Golden Walking Stick
• Award of the Minister of Culture and Arts of the 2nd degree for Juliusz Machulski
• Comedy Film Festival Marseille (France) 1984: Grand Prix
About the film
A retro comedy which is a pastiche of the best examples of the genre.
Warsaw, the 1930s. An experienced safecracker, Kwinto, is released from prison after serving a six-year sentence. He rejects offers to work with newcomers − Moks and Nuta. In his hotel, he is visited by Kramer − the owner of a shady bank. He was the one who hired Kwinto to rob his own bank, and then notified the police. This way, he managed to hide his own embezzlements; he now brings forward a large sum as compensation for the safecracker. He is, however, received very coldly. Kwinto pays a visit to the apartment of his friend, Tadeusz, and learns that he is dead. This death, deemed by the police to have been suicide, was Kramer’s doing. The wife and daughter of Tadeusz are practically destitute. Kwinto devises a subtle revenge and contacts Moks and Nuta, enlisting also Duńczyk, an expert in bank alarm systems. Kramer tries to get rid of the safecracker by sending assassins after him, but without success. Kwinto’s plan is extremely cunning. After successfully emptying the treasury, part of the loot is planted in the banker’s home; a small metal plate that blocks the alarm system with Kramer’s fingerprints on it goes into the hands of the police.
The airtight alibi is useless, and turns out to have been prepared for Kramer by Kwinto. The banker is arrested, the partners share the loot − part of which is anonymously delivered to Tadeusz’s wife.
Jan Słodowski, Leksykon polskich filmów fabularnych, Warszawa 1996
