Groundhog Day

Country and year: Poland, 2002 Genre: drama, psychological Screenplay: Marek Koterski Director: Marek Koterski Music: Jerzy Satanowski Cast: Marek Kondrat, Piotr Machalica, Joanna Sienkiewicz, Andrzej Grabowski Medical theme: obsessive-compulsive disorder Description: Marek Koterski presents a day in the life of Adaś Miauczyński, a 49-year-old Polish language teacher living in a large prefabricated apartment block in a major Polish city, who also serves as the film’s narrator. He is divorced, has a son, and eats dinner at his mother’s house. Besides that, he is a misanthrope, and especially a misogynist, and also suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, formerly known as obsessive-compulsive neurosis. His day, when he is awakened by the sound of a jackhammer outside the window, begins with curses and a wish for it to end as soon as possible. Every action he takes must be carried out perfectly according to a daily schedule he has set for himself, usually following the rule of sevens (for example, repeating a simple action, such as stirring coffee, seven times). Of course, this is accompanied by behaviors typical of his condition, such as always starting a task on the hour or checking several times to make sure he has locked the door to his apartment. Adam takes medication for his condition every day and also regularly consults a psychiatrist, who suggests he begin long-term psychotherapy. His attitude toward society makes him a nervous, aggressive, and vulgar person, despite his education, which he constantly emphasizes in his interactions with others. The grim reality of Poland has failed to meet his expectations; he is frustrated by his poor career choice, his salary, and his neighbors’ behavior. He still dreams of returning to his first love. Contrary to appearances, however, "Dzień świra" is not about him, but about Polish society and all its vices. Adaś is no more of a "nutcase" than the "normal" people he encounters on the street. The jokes are funny at first, but upon deeper reflection, we come to the conclusion that this is, after all, the reality in which we live, and there is nothing to laugh about in it. The film also doesn’t spare the doctors, who are not without their own flaws: the psychiatrist conducts therapy ineptly, the urologist examines Adaś rectally in front of the nurse and patients waiting in the hallway, while a surgeon friend writes him a prescription for “something… for that window… it makes you want to jump.”