Nowak and three other Polish men fly from Warsaw to London to renovate a townhouse owned by their boss. Their boss will save a boatload having them complete the work while also paying each of the four men an entire year’s pay for the 30 day project. It should be a win for everyone involved.
Novak, the only one who speaks English in addition to Polish, is designated as the foreman. He has to lie just to get the foursome…
A thriller set in 70s Greece that effectively ratchets up the paranoia as the runtime passes. Lots of wide shots with crowded streets where the intentions of any passerby must be questioned. Are situations playing out naturally, or are they orchestrated bait ushering you into a trap?
The three leads (Piccoli, Tognazzi, and Adorf) are excellent, and music duties are handled by Ennio Morricone.
An open and shut case of style over substance, but the style is remarkable. The visuals and sounds are always strong, and occasionally downright astonishing, but trying to make sense of the plot or statement between all of these vignettes becomes frustrating. If I do try tackling this one again someday, I’ll aim to think less, not more.
