In 1950s Stalinist Poland, a headstrong cabaret singer, Tonia, is imprisoned without explanation. Days become months, punctuated only by the physical and psychological torture of relentless interrogation. Over time, the relationship with her captors grows ever more complex. Krystyna Janda’s award-winning portrayal of a woman’s fight for survival is mesmerising in its intensity.
Based on true events, Ryszard Bugajski’s harrowing film was banned under martial law in Poland, but thrived on underground VHS after a copy was smuggled out by the director at great personal risk. Finally released after the Fall of Communism, the film remains a powerful and ever more relevant indictment of totalitarianism.
