Rare Cinematic Gems Exploring the Legacy of Wyrok zycia: Cult Guide

The Wyrok zycia Phenomenon

For many, the first encounter with Wyrok zycia is to provoke thought and inspire awe in equal measure.

The following is the story of the film, summarized chronologically. The film actually begins in the middle of the story, with the murder prosecution and conviction of Jadzia (Andrzejewska). She then tells her appellate attorney Krystyna what happened: Jadzia is a poor, lonely government worker in Warsaw who lives in a rooming house and studies at night with ambitions of becoming a nurse. On what is supposed to be a day trip to the countryside with her office mates, she is seduced and abandoned by a stranger named Janusz (Damiecki) whose face is not shown. Distressed over her being abandoned, Jadzia becomes distracted at work and is fired for making too many mistakes. She cannot hold down a job due to fainting spells which, it turns out, are due to pregnancy. She is evicted from the rooming house and becomes homeless. While weeping with her infant son at the river's side, his basket cradle accidentally drops into the river. Jadzia calls for help, but it is too late, and those who respond to her cries for help accuse her of murder. She is charged with murder under Article 25, Section 1 of Poland's Penal Code. A court-appointed lawyer defends her, but he is not very effective, so she is convicted and sentenced to death. The trial scene opens with the testimony of the one of the women who was nearby when Jadzia's infant son fell into the river. She stands, facing the panel of three judges, and the presiding judge in the middle asks her whether she confirms her previous written statement. The presiding judge wears the distinctive chain and medallion of Poland's coat of arms, which is a White Eagle. The coat of arms is also displayed prominently on wall behind presiding judge. A large crucifix rests on the bench near the presiding judge. The traditional bell for calling the court to order is resting next to the crucifix, but in this film the presiding judge is never shown using it, not even when the panel emerges to pronounce the verdict and sentence. After the witness affirms her written statement, the presiding judge confirms that neither of the other two judges has a question and then dismisses the witness. The testimony is heard by twelve jurors, all male, who sit in a separate jury box to the right hand of the panel of judges. The presiding judge then asks the prosecutor, who sits at the right end of the bench, near the jury box, to give his summation. Before speaking, the prosecutor stands and dons his cap. When he is through speaking, he removes the cap. The defendant sits in a dock to the left, across from the jury. As is customary in civil law countries, defense counsel speaks last. His client Jadzia sits behind him, guarded. There is a crucifix hanging on the wall behind them. During defense counsels plea, the film cuts abruptly to the judges returning to the bench to pronounce the verdict of the jury and to pronounce sentence. The abrupt cut implies that the deliberation was done quickly. All three judges remain standing as the presiding judge pronounces the guilty verdict and the death sentence. Incidentally, a female attorney Krystyna (Eichlerówna) is watching the proceedings from the gallery and believes that Jadzia has been convicted in error, so she volunteers to handle the appeal to the court of second instance. An appeal in civil law courts is essentially a re-trial. However, what is depicted in Life Sentence is more likely a new trial and not an appeal, because a 12-man jury is empaneled, and evidence and argument are once again presented to a three-judge panel. We are shown only the layout of the court and a glimpse of Krystynas impassioned plea to the jury. Cut to Krystynas informing Jadzia that she has been acquitted. Without consulting with her husband Janusz, Krystyna takes Jadzia home to stay indefinitely, providing her with her own room and a bank account. Jadzia and Janusz meet, and Krystyna learns that her husband is the cad who seduced and abandoned Jadzia. Janusz shoots himself in the head and survives, and Krystyna forgives him. We are left to speculate about Jadzia's future.