The Revenge (film)

Zemsta
The Revenge
Zemsta; The Revenge
Directed by	Andrzej Wajda
Produced by	ArkaFilm; Kredyt Bank; Telewizja Polska; Vision;
Starring	Roman Polanski; Janusz Gajos; Andrzej Seweryn; Katarzyna Figura; Daniel Olbrychski;
Music by	Wojciech Kilar
Distributed by	MGE
Release date	2002;
Running time	105 minutes
Language	Polish

The Revenge is the English title for Zemsta, a film released in 2002, directed by Andrzej Wajda. This film is an adaptation of a perennially popular stage farce of the same name by the Polish dramatist and poet Aleksander Fredro.

Written in a sharp, ironic style, The Revenge portrays those national characteristics that in time brought on many of Poland's national tragedies. Written for the stage, Wajda has changed very little and transferred practically the entirety of the work to the screen.

Plot edit

Raptusiewicz (Janusz Gajos) resides in one half of a castle with the other half inhabited by his hated rival Rejent Milczek (Andrzej Seweryn). Raptusiewicz wishes to marry Podstolina (Katarzyna Figura), the widow of the Lord High Steward, for her money, while Podstolina herself seeks a wealthy match. Regent Milczek's wish, on the other hand, is to bring about the union of his son Wacław (Rafał Królikowski) with Podstolina. To complicate matters more, Wacław is in love with Klara (Agata Buzek) - ward and niece of Raptusiewicz, who took her in following the death of her parents - and the feeling is mutual. The plot thickens when Klara turns into Papkin's (Roman Polanski) declared object of love.