Synopsis

A successful young stage director from Warsaw produces a classical play at the theatre in a small Polish town. The talented but unknown actor Krzysztof Malewski, who is offered the leading role, sees this as his long-awaited chance. But as soon as rehearsals begin, he realises that the director is just doing a routine job and his colleagues also don’t seem to care much about the play. His frustration and rebellious tendencies grow as the actor not only has to face problems at work, but also at home with his wife. Agnieszka Holland’s debut feature is a laconic comedy that is considered truly one of the most mature and sophisticated in Polish cinema. What does it mean to be an artist? By trying to answer this question within the realms of film, the director entered unknown territory. Provincial Actors was shot at authentic locations and under claustrophobic conditions. The film’s realistic aesthetic can be seen as a formidable allegory on the oppressive circumstances creative artists had to endure behind the Iron Curtain. Holland provides a behind the scenes look at the provincial stage and a loving, yet critical and sarcastic, picture of the daily routine of actors in 1970s Polish cultural life.