Schwarzarbeit (1982)

Schwarzarbeit: Directed by Jerzy Skolimowski. With Jeremy Irons, Eugene Lipinski, Jirí Stanislav, Eugeniusz Haczkiewicz. A Polish contractor, Nowak, leads a group of workmen to London so they can provide cheap labor for a government official based there. Nowak (Irons) has to manage the project and the men as they encounter the tempations of the West and loneliness and separation from their families. Nowak is the only one of the group who speaks English, and he uses this as a tool over his team. When the unrest in Poland leads to a military takeover, Nowak is faced with a much more difficult situation than he expected.

“My main reason for seeing u0026#39;Moonlightingu0026#39; was Jeremy Irons. It was a film that was highly recommended to me being one of the few films of his that was yet to be seen despite meaning to, with those that recommended it saying that it was one of his best performances and films. And considering that he did a lot of fine work pre-u0026#39;Lolitau0026#39; (and of course including that performance, which was better than the film), it was something that could not be refused.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eCan see whole-heartedly why u0026#39;Moonlightingu0026#39; was so highly recommended, and would do the very same with fellow Jeremy Irons fans who havenu0026#39;t yet seen the film or with anybody looking for a non-UK/US film to watch. It really is deserving of all the praise it gets and is actually deserving of more in my view, actually know a lot of people who havenu0026#39;t even heard of it let alone not seen it and that really should not be the case. Always try to be subjective and hate it when so many people try to force their opinions onto others, but it does irk me sometimes when you have so many heavily marketed films that are sometimes mediocre at best or ones that are good but not that much. And then you have a film as great as u0026#39;Moonlightingu0026#39;, one of the best films of its year and of its subject, that despite critical acclaim is not marketed enough. In favour of films that audiences are more likely to see and have concepts and stories that they may be more likely to warm to perhaps. That should not have been, or be, the case, it deserved much better than that.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eYes the deliberate pace may test the patience for some, it is wholly dependent on the viewer, but to me that was not in any way a fault. Do think that the very end could have been rounded off a little more, though the climactic moments are powerful and the final shot is unforgettable.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVisually, u0026#39;Moonlightingu0026#39; looks good. The setting has a lot of atmosphere that fits the tone of the film ideally and itu0026#39;s filmed with grit and style while bringing a claustrophobic edge that helped make things more powerful. Jerzy Skolimowski, exiled at the time, directs assuredly and never loses the vigour. Furthermore the script is an intelligently written one with some humorously satirical moments in deadpan fashion, and while more familiarity with the subject may help the story enthralled, entertained and moved, with a few disturbing twists in the mix like the identity of the only one who knows whatu0026#39;s really happening in Poland. The shoplighting sequence is a major highlight, and there is a fair share of tension and poignancy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAbsolutely agree with anybody who says Ironsu0026#39; performance here is one of his finest, both pre-u0026#39;Lolitau0026#39; (and then his career became hit and miss when it became increasingly difficult to tell what to do with him or find enough roles that played to his strengths, thatu0026#39;s my take though) and ever. It is graceful and understated but also full of authority and not many people are as good as Irons too when it comes to narration. The other performances are all great, but Irons is the one that the viewer remembers.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn conclusion, really great. 9/10”