Customer Reviews

The Quack

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4 star:		(1)
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I've been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD for years. This is my favorite Polish movie. A prestigious surgeon is losing his memory and becomes a quack in the 1920s. The acting is simply amazing. If you like European movies such as Manon of the Spring / Jean de Florette (French), you'll love this one.
Just last year I purchased a brand new VHS tape from the same studio (Polart). The video quality is quite bad and the colors disappear during some early scenes. This new DVD is quite an improvement, although it still is in a 4:3 Full screen aspect ratio. Colors are vivid. Optional English subtitles are available.

"Znachor" is a captivating story that truly holds your attention and does not let go. The film is about a distinguished surgeon who looses his memory after being beaten by robbers. Awakening in the countryside, he drifts from town to town working odd jobs. He realizes he has knowledge of medicine, but does not know where he learned it.

The townspeople find him a blessing, while the town doctor sees him as infringing on his domain. The movie makes you think about healers and established medicine, as one may work but is not accepted and therefore is illegal. As the surgeon slowly regains his memories, a feeling of connection to the young woman that works in the shop develops, as they both do share more in common than they realize.

Director Jerzy Hoffman, who is well known for his historical dramas based on literature such as "Pan Wolodyjowski," "Potop," and "Ogniem i Mieczem" does an equally good job with "Znachor," which is also based on a novel. It truly is an exceptional movie with an interesting story and convincing acting. "Znachor" is a story that may touch your heart and bring more than a few tears to your eyes, and although the story is sad, it is worth watching.