(Zmiennicy)

Overview: "Zmiennicy" is a grotesque comedy of absurdity and reality that masterfully blends slapstick, satire, and surrealism to expose the absurdities of life under communist rule in the People's Republic of Poland (PRL). The story follows Jacek Żytkiewicz, a taxi driver in Warsaw, and his mysterious new shift partner, Katarzyna Piórecka, who disguises herself as a man to get the job. The series is a comedy of the grotesque, filled with exaggerated characters, nonsensical bureaucracy, and surreal plot twists. It mocks the inefficiencies and contradictions of PRL institutions—from corrupt officials and inept police to bizarre workplace dynamics and social hypocrisy. Underneath the absurdity lies a thriller-like subplot: a drug trafficking operation smuggling heroin from Thailand to West Germany. This storyline, featuring shady sports officials, a Thai student, and a crooked firefighter, adds a layer of intrigue reminiscent of American crime dramas.

Countries:

Poland

Genres:

Comedy

Networks:

TVP

Year:

1987

Production companies:

Centralna Wytwórnia Programów i Filmów Telewizyjnych „POLTEL”

Actors:

Jacek Żytkiewicz

Kasia Piórecka

Zenon Kuśmider

Maria Piórecka

Helena Koniuszkowa

Crews:

Camera Operator

Assistant Editor

Special Effects

Camera Operator

Editor