Tydzien z zycia mezczyzny (1999)
Release Year: 1999
Nation: Poland
Alternative Title: A Week in the Life of a Man, Viikko miehen elämästä, Egy hét egy férfi életében, Sette giorni nella vita di un uomo
Director: Jerzy Stuhr
Writer: Jerzy Stuhr
Production & Genre
Producer: Producer: Juliusz Machulski
Co-Producer: Jacek Bromski, Jacek Moczydłowski
Companies: Studio Filmowe Zebra, Telewizja Polska
Budget: N/A
Awards & Similar
Awards:
Similar: N/A
Story
Jerzy Stuhr wrote, directed, and starred in this drama about a man sworn to uphold the law who applies a very different moral code to himself than he does to others. As Adam Borowski, Stuhr plays a government lawyer prosecuting a variety of cases, including smuggling, theft, child abandonment, and racially motivated assault. However, Adam's own life is hardly a model by which to live. He's overextended himself financially and is trying to figure out how to avoid paying the hospital bills for his terminally ill mother. Adam is married, but he's been having an affair for some time, and, while he breaks off his relationship with his mistress, he's easily tempted into other liaisons. His wife wants to adopt a handicapped child; Adam would prefer not to have another child in the house, and he uses his influence to slow up the paperwork. And in order to reduce his tax bill, Adam has involved himself in a charitable donation scheme of dubious legality.
Summary
In "A Week in the Life of a Man," Jerzy Stuhr's Adam Borowski, a high-ranking government lawyer, juggles his professional duty to uphold justice and his personal life marred by moral compromises. Each day begins with Adam's disciplined laps in the pool, but his evenings spiral into chaos. He prosecutes cases ranging from smuggling to racial assault yet struggles with financial strain due to his mother's hospital bills. His marriage is strained by his long-standing affair and his wife's desire to adopt a handicapped child, which he opposes using his influence. To cut his tax bill, Adam entangles himself in a questionable charity scheme. Stuhr's performance is compelling, but the narrative's uneven pacing and some implausible scenes make it more suited for video viewing than a cinematic event.
