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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
If you like history and don't mind a lot of film grain, give it a go. If you need 4K and loud explosions, you will probably hate this one. 🚢
It's a silent movie from 1923, so you have to be in a certain mood. I watched it on a rainy Tuesday and it kind of fit the vibe.
The story is called Pod bandera milosci, which means something like 'Under the Flag of Love'. It’s exactly as dramatic as it sounds.
Jerzy Marr plays one of the main guys and his hair is unbelievable. It stays perfectly in place even when he's supposed to be on a windy ship.
I kept wondering what kind of grease they used back then to keep it so shiny. It’s the most distracting part of the first twenty minutes.
The plot is mostly about naval life and romance. There are sailors, big hats, and a lot of intense staring.
Maria Bogda is also in this, and she has these eyes that just pop off the screen. Even with the blurry quality of a 100-year-old film, you can see her emotions clearly.
It reminds me a bit of the physical acting in The Strong Man. Everything is a bit extra, but that's how they did it back then.
There’s a scene where they are all on the deck of the ship. The water looks so cold and grey in black and white.
It makes you appreciate how tough those actors must have been. No trailers or heated sets, just the wind and a camera that probably weighed a ton.
I noticed a weird scratch on the right side of the film during the middle part. It looks like a little hair dancing around the corner of the frame.
It’s funny how you start to focus on those little imperfections when the story slows down. The pacing is... well, it's 1923 pacing.
Sometimes a character will walk across a room and it takes forever. You could probably go make a sandwich and come back before they reach the door.
But then a title card pops up with some very poetic dialogue. It’s all very earnest and sweet in a way movies aren't anymore.
I also liked seeing Wladyslaw Walter on screen. He’s got one of those faces that just looks like it belongs in the past.
The costumes are surprisingly sharp, especially the naval uniforms. They must have spent most of the budget on those buttons.
There is a lot of salute-ing. Like, a lot. I lost count after about fifteen minutes.
It felt a bit like watching The Doll in terms of the stagey feel. Everything feels like it's happening on a very big, very expensive set.
I think Jerzy Braun, who wrote it, really wanted to make the Polish navy look heroic. It works, honestly.
You find yourself rooting for these guys even if the plot is a bit thin in places. It's more about the feeling of the era than the actual story beats.
One reaction shot of a lady in a fancy hat goes on for about ten seconds too long. It starts to feel like she's staring directly into your soul.
I actually laughed a little because it was so intense. 😅
If you've seen things like Die Weber, you know what to expect with these European silents. They have a certain weight to them that American stuff from that time sometimes lacks.
There is no CGI, obviously, so when you see a ship, it’s a real ship. That’s the coolest part for me.
I wonder where that ship is now. Probably at the bottom of the ocean or turned into scrap metal decades ago.
The ending is very patriotic and a bit cheesy. But hey, it was 1923, and everyone was still feeling very big about their country.
I wouldn't say this is a masterpiece that everyone needs to see. But it’s a neat little window into a world that doesn't exist anymore.
It's like finding an old postcard in a junk shop. You don't know the people, but you can tell they were having a very big day.
I’m glad I watched it, even if I did have to squint at the screen half the time. The graininess adds a layer of mystery to it.
If you have an hour to kill and want to see some vintage Polish style, check it out. Just keep your expectations grounded.
It's a simple story told with a lot of heart and some very shiny hair. And sometimes, that’s enough for a Tuesday night.
IMDb 5.2
1929
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