Przypadek

English title: Blind Chance

Also known as: (le) Hasard

Genre: psychological drama

With: Boguslaw Linda (Witold ‟Witek” Dlugosz), Tadeusz Lomnicki (Werner), Zbigniew Zapasiewicz (Adam), Boguslawa Pawelec (Czuszka), Marzena Trybala (Werka), Jacek Borkowski (Marek), Jacek Sas-Uhrynowski (Daniel), Monika Gozdzik (Olga), Zygmunt Hubner (the Dean)

Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski

Screenplay: Krzysztof Kieslowski

Release: 1987

Studio: P.P. Film Polski

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.6/10 

 

‟Without that bitterness, that hope... life would be lamentable.” 

 

QuickView

Story-line: BLIND CHANCE opens with a simple premise: after the death of his father, a medical student named Witek undergoes a ‟crisis of faith”, quits school and decides to go to Warsaw. Once he reaches the train station, however, fate takes over and leads him through different versions of his life (lasting 60, 40 and 20 minutes respectively on screen). 

Pluses: a charismatic cast anchored by Boguslaw Linda, an astute and admirably structured screenplay that features new and recurring characters who evolve depending on Witek's circumstances, sober but artistic production values, vitally important editing (Elzbieta Kurkowska), Wojciech Kilar’s beautiful musical theme reminiscent of Michel Legrand's finer compositions.

Minuses: if the opening scenes confuse you, focus on Witek. Personally, I didn't grasp all of the screenplay's subtleties due to my ignorance of recent Polish history but, even then, I was fascinated by Witek's adventures in politics, religion, education and love.      

Comments: in his films, Krzysztof Kieslowski (THREE COLORS, DEKALOG) didn't follow a formula or try to dazzle audiences but aimed for enlightenment and artistic expression (I guess he was also a patient man since authorities apparently delayed this film's release for 6 years by reason of its political content). In true Kieslowski fashion, BLIND CHANCE is unusual, challenging and eloquent in its demonstration of the vagaries of existence (and the heavy hand of communist rulers in this particular case). The more you think about this film, the more powerful it gets. 

 

MBiS 

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