On the 12th of April in 1982, ‘The Quack – Znachor’ irrevocably transformed the panorama of Polish filmmaking. It was precisely four decades and one year ago when Jerzy Hoffman’s silver screen interpretation of Dołęga-Mostowicz’s literary work made its debut in cinemas for the very first time.
'The Quack - Znachor' is the second rendition from the popular novel by the same name. The first was made by Michal Waszynski in 1937.
“The Quack – Znachor” is a Polish film directed by Jerzy Hoffman, based on the novel of the same name by Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz. The movie was released in 1982 and quickly became a classic of Polish cinema.
The story is set in the 1920s and follows the journey of a young doctor, played by Marek Kondrat, who is wrongly accused of murder and has to flee his hometown. He becomes a quack, traveling around the countryside and healing people with his knowledge of medicine. He soon gains a reputation as a skilled healer and is invited to the estate of a wealthy family to treat their daughter, played by Iwona Bielska.
The acting in “The Quack – Znachor” is superb, with Marek Kondrat giving a standout performance as the young doctor turned quack. He portrays the character’s transformation with nuance and subtlety, making it easy for the audience to root for him. Iwona Bielska also delivers a great performance as the wealthy daughter in need of medical attention.
The cinematography is stunning, with beautiful shots of the Polish countryside and period-accurate attention to detail. The score is also noteworthy, with music that perfectly captures the mood of the film.
“The Quack – Znachor” is a must-see for fans of Polish cinema and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted period piece. The story is engaging, the acting is top-notch, and the visuals are breathtaking. It’s easy to see why this film has stood the test of time and remains a beloved classic of Polish cinema.
A new release by Netflix
In early February, “The Quack – Znachor” announced that they are working on their own version of “Znachor”. Leszek Lichota will play the role of Professor Rafał Wilczur, while Maria Kowalska will portray his on-screen daughter and Ignacy Liss will play Count Czyński. Anna Szymańczyk will take on the role of Zośka. Other actors set to appear on screen include Mirosław Haniszewski, Mikołaj Grabowski, Izabela Kuna, Paweł Tomaszewski, Małgorzata Mikołajczak, and Łukasz Szczepanowski.
“The Quack – Znachor” is another brave project by Netflix, which has already produced over 30 Polish movies and TV series.
Read also: