Warsaw: Year 5703 (1992)
In the winter of 1943 two young Jews, Alek and Fryda, escape, via sewer tunnels, from the atrocities underway in Warsaw ghetto. Alek, entrusted with undeveloped photos of the horrors within, makes his way to a supposedly safe apartment only to find it occupied by Germans. Another tenant, a pole Stephania, abruptly offers to shelter him in her spacious apartment. She comforts him and they make love that very night. Stefania is uncommonly generous and willing to jeopardize her own safety by hiding a Jew. She even goes to a nearby church and rescues Fryda. But Fryda is ungrateful and proceeds to sabotage the trio's safety in insidious ways.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Reviews
Best movie ever!
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
In 1943, in Warsaw, the Jews Alek (Lambert Wilson) and Fryda (Julie Delpy), escape from the ghetto through the sewer tunnels. Alek leaves his wife Fryda in a church and looks for help. Stephania (Hanna Schygulla), a German Christian woman of about forty years old living alone, gives shelter and food for Alek. In the night, they have an affair, and Alek, wanting to keep the protection of Stephania, lies to her. He say that Fryda would be his little sister, and Stephania brings her from the church and lodges both of them at her home. Fryda becomes jealous with the situation and performs all sort of betrayal and cruelties against Stephania. Her final revenge leads the trio to a tragic end. This movie is a tragic drama about choices in life for surviving, supported by the outstanding performance of Julie Delpy, Lambert Wilson and Hanna Schygulla and the magnificent direction of Janusz Kijovwki. Stephania chooses for helping the Jews Alek and Fryda in an occupied Poland. Alek chooses for not telling the truth about Fryda to Stephania. Fryda chooses to double-cross Stephania and Alek. Stephania chooses to have a baby. Alek chooses Stephania. In the end, he chooses for risking his life for Fryda. Julie Delpy highlights with a character very mean, blinded by the feeling of revenge. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): `Varsóvia Ano 5703' (`Warsaw - Year 5703')
This European co production recounts the lives of three people who tragically collide in an explosive threesome of oppression, forbidden passion, betrayal and revenge. Though at times hard to watch, the film is ultimately a provocative exploration of the human condition under great duress. Another reason to watch is to see its three now very well known stars, 9 years younger than they are now. This includes a teenage looking Julie Delpy, and a sexy, (speaking excellent French) fortyish Hanna Schygulla, in her last turn as a sexy beauty (albeit the older woman, but still stunning). Rent it. The NTSC Video is unfortunately not listed at Amazon.com (hint, hint, list it..), but I recently bought it in Canada, where the English subtitled version is available through Alliance-Atlantis/MCA Home Video. This is not a commercial plug, just a service to IMDb users like myself, who had heard about this unreleased film in the US and most of South America (though it was in Argentina), and may want to gain access to it. Watch it if you like a good psycho drama, in a historic context, with three of Europe's best actors.