A little-known example of Central European science fiction. Poland (a country that isn’t known for quality sci-fi) was the source for SENSITIVE SPOTS (CZULE MIEJSCA), a 1981 film directed by the gifted, if largely forgotten, Piotr Andrejew (1947–2017).
…this 1981 film directed by the gifted, if largely forgotten, Piotr Andrejew (1947–2017).
In the far-off year 1998 pollution has strangled the world, cars are outlawed, and it’s been predicted that humanity will die off entirely in ten years. Worst of all, the people living in this dystopia all seem to dress in see-through plastic wrap and platform shoes. We look in on Jan Zaleski (Michal Juszczakiewicz), a TV repairman (an extremely important occupation in this film’s indoor universe), getting interrogated by government officials due to his staunch nonconformist stance; among his many heretical beliefs is the conviction that aliens will soon turn up on Earth.
He’s married, but having an affair with Ewa (Hanna Dunowska), an aspiring ballet dancer. She, for her part, is schtupping the powerful TV producer Allan (Marek Barbasiewicz). The latter hires Jan as a video technician on his latest TV special, but he, upon seeing that the special involves Allan seducing Ewa, goes nuts and sabotages the broadcast, after which he tries to electrocute himself in his bathtub—just as the aliens whose arrival he’s been predicting finally show up! Ewa, of course, marries Allan, and Jan, bored with his job, disappears. This becomes a problem, because on December 31 a worldwide blackout occurs, and it seems that only Jan has the expertise to get Poland’s electrical grid back up and running. But where is he?
This is very much an art film, and an extremely talky one…
This is very much an art film, and an extremely talky one, with endless scenes of Jan discussing his individualistic philosophy at great length. As with all worthwhile science fiction, the future depicted here is a distorted mirror reflection of the (then) present, in this case early 1980s Poland, which was under communist rule. The film’s anti-collectivist leanings are laudable and (still) potent, with an ending that shows why marginalizing nonconformists is a bad idea. Yet the complete lack of action or sensation of any sort—outside, in true European art film fashion, some gratuitous female nudity—makes for a not-entirely-satisfying viewing experience.
Yet the complete lack of action or sensation of any sort—outside, in true European art film fashion, some gratuitous female nudity—makes for a not-entirely-satisfying viewing experience.
Piotr Andrejew offers unexpected and appealing throwaway touches (such as an apprehensive Jan being startled by mischievous co-workers as he exits a scene) and moments of Tarkovskian beauty (Jan standing in a mirrored puddle), with an aura of poetic desolation and sepia tinted black and white photography favorably recall STALKER. There’s also an appearance by future B-movie mainstay Joanna Pacula as a nurse. Something we don’t see, however, are the aliens to which Jan constantly refers, but which are never shown.
Vital Statistics
SENSITIVE SPOTS (CZULE MIEJSCA)
Studio Filmowe Kadr
Director: Piotr Andrejew
Screenplay: Piotr Andrejew, Andrzej Pastuszek
Cinematography: Jerzy Zielinski
Editing: Alina Faflik
Cast: Michal Juszczakiewicz , Hanna Dunowska, Marek Barbasiewicz, Wlodzimierz Borunski, Mariusz Dmochowski, Emilia Krakowska, Anna Nehrebecka, Katarzyna Owczarek, Joanna Pacula, Jack Recknitz, Tatiana Sosna-Sarno, Ernestyna Winnicka, Ewa Zietek