The Quack (1982)

it is simple to define it as one of the most important films of my youth. the performance - memorable Jerzy Binczycki-, the story, the moral lesson, the film as way to the book, all preserves the images of an admirable work. a doctor, his amnesia, his sufferance and the ways to be useful to a small community. the meet. and the truth , after decades, as price of long pain years. nothing surprising for the Polish cinema. but splendid for the small detail to be a fresh story today and demonstration of beautiful art. short, a film who must see it.

This film follows the life of a renowned physician who ends up a homeless vagrant with amnesia after losing his family and getting beaten up in an alley, all within a short span of time.There isn't anything weak about this movie. The story feels very real and has touching moments without being superficial or cheesy. The story moves between an early 20th century Polish city and village life of the same era. The main character is easy to like and to relate to as he goes through his woes and tries to put his memories and life back together.I recommend this film if you would like to watch a good, humane drama that doesn't disturb you in its darkest moment, builds an air of hope as it develops, and ends with a very satisfying sweet touch.

I never saw this film when it was in the Soviet Union in the 1983-84. Only this year could I get a DVD and watch it. What a pleasure! What a serious, deep, moving and touching work of ever excellent Jerzy Hoffman! The story is quite thrilling - a famous surgeon is beaten by drunken bullies, loses his memory and cannot recollect who he was before. he gets to a village, lives in a not so well to do family and becomes the Quack - he slowly regains his talent for medicine and saves the lives of several village patients. The film is warm, sweet and rich in details, the colors are impeccable and the play of the main actor just excellent. He looks so frail, although he is very strong both physically and mentally. He behaves so modestly but then he is the victor both over death and the fate. This is a bit slow, but very serious film, very thoughtful and very romantic - tears are on eyes not once or twice during the watching. Very good work - highly recommended!

This film is excellent for its plot and message but an even better version of it is a black and white oldie made before the WWII!! This version follows the original plot which is what is so good about the movie and it keeps the viewer interested in how the story will unfold and who will win in the end; however, the black and white version is better because it is far more dramatic. Besides the timing, of filming the movie, being closer to a time when such a story could have taken place, the very format of old film-making gives it this strange old feel that this could have really happened. The black and white colors suits this story very well and the acting is excellent. I saw this film first when I was 10, then 12 and now at 27 I still love it.