Ignacy Jan Paderewski was a talented pianist and diplomat. Thanks to his musical talent and general enthusiasm arousing around him, he could successfully work for Polish policy in exile, especially in the USA. After many years Paderewski is not so well remembered or recalled personage in Poland. Łukasz Barczyk decided to pay tribute to him and also put to the test viewers used to conventional form of historical film, therefore he made the quirky Influenz.
December 1918. Happenings take place in different parts of Europe. Poland, after 123 years of partitions is finally gaining independence. Paderewski (Jan Frycz) is outside of Poland but going to come back to his motherland to extend his political activities. Main events oscillate around his return and attempts of Prussian leadership to stop the Polish diplomatic representative from coming back.
Among hostile authorities there is a dangerous telepath – Dr. Manfred Abuse (terrific Crispin Glover!) who uses his supernatural power against German Empire enemies, but also uncooperative Prussian commanders. His plan is to infect Paderewski with Spanish flu in order to forestall Greater Poland Uprising of 1918-1919 (since he has foreseen the diplomat’s arrival in Poznań will contribute to the uprising).
Fortunately, there is also a group of patriots in Poznań who fight to prevent Paderewski from being harmed. Amid them there are people with unusual powers who would sit around the table as during the séance, use pendulum and the pianist’s garter to connect with him. The movie focuses on a dogged scuffle between the group and Dr. Abuse.
Prominent aspect of Influenz is ambiguity of the film genre. Although Łukasz Barczyk presents real events and actual characters it looks far different from conventional historical film. The amount of magical actions, medium appearances and oneiric, a bit surreal scenes, make it more into fantasy. The boundaries are being blurred since during big part of the screening we have no idea if we’re looking at someone’s illusion, a dream or a retrospection. Telepaths’ tricks draw us in and make us almost dizzy. You may feel lost, irritated or delighted by that.
As long as the matter described above is questionable, the mastery of scenography and make-up is undeniable. No wonder since Influenz is on the list of ten most expensive Polish movies (budget around 24 million Polish zloty). However, special effects don’t always look polished up. Especially in long shots which show crowds in a big square, city skylines or the Polish-Prussian battle. They resemble gaming stylistics or CGI animation. Fortunately, the authors of Influenz made amends to viewers – they used some intriguing mirror tricks. In a few scenes we’re following characters aiming to open the door or a closet and at the moment of opening we’re realizing, we were looking at reflection for some time. I think what Barczyk was trying to say here is that we’re constantly being misled by Abuse and Poznań group so we should pay close attention to what’s happening.
The movie shows different, fanciful approach to historical events. The idea of gifted humans entering other people’s minds, influencing their decisions and making their actions in dreams have consequences in real life was indisputably brave. You should go and see for yourselves if it appeals to you.
Polish Cinema Review 