There and Back
Wojciech Wójcik
2002, 1 h 42 minLodz, 1965. Adam Hoffman – a prominent surgeon, former member of the Home Army and political prisoner – for years has been trying to obtain a passport to visit the family he left in England. An officer of the Office of Security who monitors the medical community leaves no doubt that signing up a cooperation agreement is the only way to achieve that. Adam bumps into Piotr, a painter and an old friend from the days in the underground, who gives him an idea for a different solution. But the price to pay will be very high. Inspired by the 1960s “heist of the century”, There and Back is a variation on Polish heist movies – a dazzling retro action film with great acting performances. A faithful portrait of the era, a metaphor of contemporary Poland at the turn of centuries and an attempt to answer the question whether the ends always justify the means.
written by Anna Świerkocka
music Krzesimir Dębski
production design Jacek Osadowski
costume design Elżbieta Radke
make-up Magdalena Łęcka
sound Piotr Domaradzki
edited by Marek Denys
cast Janusz Gajos, Jan Frycz, Olaf Lubaszenko, Mirosław Baka, Edyta Olszówka
production Wytwórnia Filmów Dokumentalnych i Fabularnych
producer Włodzimierz Niderhaus
co-produced by Canal+ Polska, Best Film
production manager Joanna Kopczyńska
co-financed by Agencja Produkcji Filmowej
Wojciech Wójcik director and screenwriter. One of the most important authors of Polish action films. Born in 1943. Died in 2018. Graduate of Film and Television Directing Department of the Lodz Film School. Win- ner of numerous awards, incl. the award for directing at the 2002 Polish Film Festival in Gdynia. Made his debut with the TV feature Gościnny występ (1973). For years, he was gaining experience as an assistant director and 2nd unit director supervised by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Stanisław Różewicz and Jerzy Hoffman, to name but a few. Released later than anticipated, his full-length debut Okno (1981) wasn’t noticed. The real beginning of his directing career was marked by Karate Polish Style (1982) – the first picture that combined action-film conventions with a deeper reflection. Subsequent titles perfected this formula. Comedy Blind Date (2009) was his last film.
Selected films
1982 Karate Polish Style
