The Debt (1999 film)

• Robert Gonera as Adam Borecki
• Jacek Borcuch as Stefan Kowalczyk
• Andrzej Chyra as Gerard Nowak
• Cezary Kosiński as Tadeusz free
• Joanna Szurmiej as Basia
• Agnieszka Warchulska as Jola

The blame game is a Polish film based on the true story of two young businessmen Artur Bryliński ( in the film Adam ) and Sławomir Sikora ( Stefan in the film ).

Action

The friends Adam and Stefan live in Warsaw in the early 1990s. You want to get as many as in the emerging capitalism of the post-communist Poland with shops to wealth and see their opportunity in importing scooters from Italy. But for this they need a business loan. When the banks do not help them, they meet a fleeting acquaintance, Gerard, who promises them to assist in obtaining credit. The business still does not come. However, Gerard faced with his expenses. Although they received no money, but are now burdened with a debt with Gerard. The seedy Gerard puts the two young businessmen under pressure. The debt grows and grows by dubious interest. Adam and Stefan feel like blackmailed by the Mafia and have to fear for their lives. You decide to go to the police, but even there you will find no help. Ultimately, they see no other way out than to kill Gerard. You can practice as a brutal revenge murder of the Mafia look like. However, the young people come up with the terrible fact, not clear, and Adam finally confronts the police.

Background

The true story struck after discovery of the body in the Vistula high waves in the daily press. In Poland, however, only really took notice of the story, as Krzysztof Krauze years later made ​​his film. He interviewed the convicted to 25 years imprisonment and Sławomir Sikora Artur Bryliński in prison and wrote the screenplay based on this. After the huge box office success and numerous awards to pardon the offender was required in the population. Aleksander Kwasniewski finally pardoned in 2005 Sikora, who is now on its own went through his autobiography and other publications as a writer speeches. Artur Bryliński currently waiting on the loose ( break in the term of imprisonment ) on the pardon.

In Germany the film at the Berlinale in 2000 as part of the Panorama section has been shown, however, never came to German cinemas. The ZDF broadcast later from a dubbed version.

Reviews

• Filmdienst: A gripping film based on a real case, which also denounces the increasing brutalization of Eastern European societies such as the rampant capitalism and the exploitation associated with it.

Awards

• Polish Film Festival in Gdynia 1999: Golden Lion for best film of the festival, as well as individual awards for best male supporting role ( Andrzej Chyra ) and the best music.
• Polish Film Awards 2000 in the categories: Best Film, Best Actor (Robert Gonera ), Best Supporting Actor ( Andrzej Chyra ), Best Director and Best Screenplay.