film
The Contract
[Kontrakt], directed by Bruno Brejt, Poland 2021, 72' (English friendly)
- It is a frosty winter in 1837. Alexander Pushkin arrives at the court of the Tsar. His beloved Natalia accompanies him during the visit to the cruel and ruthless ruler. Enchanted by her exceptional beauty, the French baron George d’Anthese unleashes his desire, thus putting Alexander’s honour to the test. The two men become entangled in palace intrigues and are forced into a duel. Is all this really in the name of love? Mysterious and powerful forces are involved in this story straight out of a romantic drama. A dark figure weaves the fate of the protagonists to push them beyond the boundaries of common sense, ignite hidden desires and spread uncertainty… For where is God when evil takes human souls?
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The Contract is an intriguing cinematic endeavour and another breath of fresh air in Polish cinematography. Author of the script Bruno Brejt, making his debut as a director, offers cinema with a unique oneiric mood combining terror and fairy-tale-like atmosphere of Polish legends. The independent Polish production balances on the verge of horror, drama and dark fantasy. It is a turbulent love story immersed in the spirit of Romanticism and a tale of evil lurking in the shadows, craving human suffering.
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