Man–Woman Wanted
Stanisław Bareja
1973, 1 h 23 minThe most famous male-female “dressing up game” in the history of Polish cinema, with an excellent performance by Wojciech Pokora in a female role. A film which was nearly ten years ahead of the acclaimed Tootsie from 1982 directed by Sidney Pollack. The departure point of the story is almost action-packed: when a certain painter steals his own painting to raise interest in his works, an inconspicuous museum employee, Stanisław, becomes the suspect.
In a desperate attempt to avoid the justice system, the man begins to work as a housekeeper named Marysia. This starts a chain of hilarious events and for the protagonist – a series of more often than not troublesome encounters with supporting and bit characters: a permanent director, a professor making moonshine or a painter who only depicts hands. The reality of the Polish People’s Republic is illustrated tongue-in-cheek in an absurd sit-com.
written by Stanisław Bareja, Jacek Fedorowicz
director of photography Jan Laskowski
music Jerzy Matuszkiewicz
production design Bogdan Kostrzyński
costume design Ewa Furmańczyk
make-up Roman Kęsikowski
sound Leszek Wronko
edited by Mirosława Jaworska
cast Wojciech Pokora, Jolanta Bohdal, Mieczysław Czechowicz, Jerzy Dobrowolski, Wojciech Siemion
production Zespół Filmowy Pryzmat
production managers Jan Szymański, Edward Kłosowicz