''Hunting Flies'' () is a 1969 Polish

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Andrzej Wajda Andrzej Witold Wajda (; 6 March 1926 – 9 October 2016) was a Polish film and theatre director. Recipient of an Honorary Oscar, the Palme d'Or, as well as Honorary Golden Lion and Honorary Golden Bear Awards, he was a prominent member of the "P ...

. It was entered into the

1969 Cannes Film Festival The 22nd Cannes Film Festival took place from 8 to 23 May 1969. Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti served as jury president for the main competition. The ''Grand Prix du Festival International du Film'', then the fetival's main prize, was awarde ...

Plot

Włodek is a young man who is stuck in a boring job in a library. He lives in a small apartment with his wife, son and in-laws. His family life is oppressive due to constant nagging by his wife, who wants to move to a bigger apartment. His father-in-law has an obsession with flies. His son is glued to the television set. Włodek's life changes when he meets a young woman, Irena, who fascinates him with her striking appearance and impressive vocabulary. They set off on a short trip together. Their affair is more intellectual than physical. Irena seeks to control Włodek and make him a successful man as imagined by her. Włodek manages to regain control of his life just in time.

Cast

Zygmunt Malanowicz Zygmunt Malanowicz (4 February 1938 – 4 April 2021) was a Polish film actor. He appeared in more than 30 films from 1962 to 2020. Selected filmography * ''Knife in the Water'' (1962) * '' Naked Among Wolves'' (1963) * '' Barrier'' (1966) ...

as Włodek *

Małgorzata Braunek Małgorzata Braunek (30 January 1947 – 23 June 2014) was a Polish film and stage actress. Early life Małgorzata Braunek was born in Szamotuły. She studied acting department at National Higher School of Theatre in Warsaw until 1969, when sh ...

as Irena * Ewa Skarzanka as Hanka, Włodek's wife * Hanna Skarzanka as Hanka's mother *

Józef Pieracki Józef Pieracki (10 September 1909 - 5 August 1988) was a Polish actor. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1953 to 1986. Selected filmography References External links * 1909 births 1988 deaths Polish male film actors Rec ...

as Hanka's father *

Daniel Olbrychski Daniel Marcel Olbrychski (; born 27 February 1945) is a Polish people, Polish film actor, film and theatre actor who is widely considered one of the greatest Polish actors of his generation. He appeared in 180 films and TV productions and is bes ...

as csulptor * Irena Dziedzic as journalist *

Leszek Drogosz Leszek Melchior Drogosz (6 January 1933 – 7 September 2012) was a Polish boxer and actor. Drogosz was born in Kielce. He thrice won the gold medal at the European Amateur Boxing Championships in the Light welterweight division a ...

as militiaman * Jacek Fedorowicz as director *

Marek Grechuta Marek Michał Grechuta (10 December 1945 – 9 October 2006) was a Polish singer, songwriter, composer, and lyricist. Early life Grechuta was born on 10 December 1945 in Zamość, Poland. He studied architecture at Tadeusz Kościuszko Universi ...

as V.I.P.'s son *

Irena Laskowska Irena Laskowska (15 March 1925 – 6 December 2019) was a Polish actress. She appeared in more than 40 films and television shows between 1948 and 2003. Selected filmography * '' The Last Day of Summer'' (1958) * ''Milczące ślady ''Milcz� ...

as editor's wife * Julia Bratna as girl *

M. Ziólkowski M, or m, is the thirteenth letter of the English alphabet. M may also refer to: Companies and products * M (fragrance), a 2008 fragrance by Mariah Carey * M-series rangefinder, a series of Leica camera models * M (virtual assistant), a form ...

as boy * Leon Bukowiecki as editor * Krzysztof Burnatowicz

Reception

The film, when released, was well received by some critics, which led to its being shortlisted for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. However, the portrayal of women in the film came in for adverse comments. One critic remarked: "the film's stale misogyny doesn't reflect well on ajda..." Accepting the criticism, Andrzej Wajda wrote later: "I willingly accepted Janusz Glowacki's film script without giving it much thought. Driven by frustration of temporary personal misadventures, I decided to settle the score with women who try to control men's lives. ... Unfortunately, my faculties were dimmed by my temporary disgust with women ... I lacked clear judgement and had to pay for it. ... what resulted was a fairly colourless film." ''Hunting Flies'' has attracted critical attention as a film which is atypical of Wajda's work. As a 2016 reviewer writes: "With ''Hunting Flies'' Andrzej Wajda clearly deviated from his usual style and gave us a satiric bitter-sweet picture of young adults being trapped in various social deals, family issues, class system (still visible) – just like eponymous flies stuck to a flypaper."

References

External links

* {{Andrzej Wajda 1969 films 1960s Polish-language films 1969 comedy films Films directed by Andrzej Wajda Polish comedy films