Review of film: “ALL THAT I LOVE” = [ = Report # 08 on 46th CIFF ]

2010, 09-27:

Review of film:  “ALL THAT I LOVE”   [ = Report # 08 on 46^th CIFF ]

          REPORT # 08 on the 2010  46^th CHICAGO INT’L FILM FESTIVAL =     

This film --  the Polish candidate for the Nominee list re a 2011 Best Foreign Language OSCAR -- (with the original title of “Wszyztko, Co Kocham”) combines various elements:  young love, music, and POLITICAL overtones of a society dealing with a growing uprising against the Communist leadership:

…  As shown in the film, Polish Communist leader Wojciech Jaruzelski declared the country under MARTIAL LAW in December of 1981... 

...  He did that ostensibly to control the growing opposition of the supposedly disruptive “SOLIDARITY”” movement of Lech Walesa’s group (but interpreted by some as a way of getting the Soviets to directly intervene in the country to help stop the disturbances that eventually led to the BREAKUP of the Warsaw Pact & the whole Soviet empire)…

…  Bit-by-bit, we’re introduced to the major players in the story:  Four high-school guys are very impressed with anything American, & happily form a “PUNK” rock band:  Lead singer / songwriter Janek (MATEUSZ KOSCIUKIEWICZ), his younger brother Staszek (MATEUSZ BANASIUK) who’s the drummer, Janek’s best friend Kazik (JAKUB GIERSZAL) who’s the most rebellious of the group, and “Diabel” (IGOR OBLOZA) who’s from a fairly wealthy family…

…  Janek’s father (ANDRZEJ CHYRA) works for the Navy (& thus is considered a member of the ruling Communist party).  He is unusually UNDERSTANDING of his sons’ desires to live in a better society: 

...  As he says to some co-workers, yes, he agrees that the kids’ music is overly “loud” & disruptive, but, “It’s THEIR music—”, & is accepting of their behavior since they’re essentially good kids…  Their mother Ela (ANNA RADWAN) is a nurse, & she also is very supportive of the guys…

…  Janek is very “taken” by pretty girl Basia Martyniak (OLGA FRYCZ), & happily keeps getting closer to her romantically...

...  But, her father is a strong supporter of the opposition “SOLIDARITY” movement that’s instigating anti-governmental STRIKES in the shipyards, & he discourages her from being around a guy whose father is involved with the government (which causes considerable upset in Janek’s life)…

…  At one point, Janek & his dad go to visit the dad’s ill mother (ELZBIETA KARKOSZKA) in the countryside, & that becomes a very emotionally difficult time for all involved…

…  Being typically horny teen guys, members of the band keep bragging & encouraging each other to try to “hit” on women such as an older teacher named Sokolowska (KATARZYNA HERMAN), with Janek “nominated” as the main guy in that effort… 

...  But, there’s a sort of “glitch” in those general plans in that her husband Captain Sokolowski is an important MILITARY person in the area who very much DISLIKES those (like Janek’s group) who are agitating for more FREEDOM & “anti-socialistic” values…

…  Would you be surprised if things came to a “head” in various forms, such as when the kids’ Punk band is supposed to play at a CONCERT located in the Captain’s domain?...  Do you think the authorities are likely to be “SYMPATHETIC” about protests & destructive efforts by various of the kids?...     

…  This is an intriguing & well-told little story, smoothly mixing social issues with historical ones in a well-acted film.  I’d rate it 7.5 stars out of 10.

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