In memory of the great Polish actor Jerzy Stuhr, who sadly passed away this year, we present this fortieth anniversary screening of one of his most enduringly popular comedies, and something of a Polish cultural touchstone. While elements of the film’s portrayal of the battle of the sexes are undeniably dated, its underlying satire of totalitarianism still hits its targets. In the futuristic year of 1991, Maks (Stuhr) and Albert (Olgierd Łukaszewicz) volunteer as guinea pigs for a new experiment in human suspended animation, proposed to last for three years. Instead, the two come to in 2044, in a post-nuclear world in which men no longer exist, and are remembered only as dangerous oppressors. The antiquated duo are forced to go on the run, and, naturally, cause chaos in an ordered society that has no need for them.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.

Screening as part of IFI Kinopolis Polish Film Festival.