19. Południk

The conspiracy story takes place in Poland, at the beginning of the 21st century. in 2003, Poles decide in a referendum not to join the EU, and in 2007 Bartlomiej Czop, a demagogue and primitive, devoid of education and personal culture, is elected president of Poland. He begins his tenure in office by brutally ejecting ex-president Kazimierz Czechmeszynski from the Belvedere when the latter wants to hand over the insignia of power to him. He then insults the Russian and German ambassadors. He also puts his crime-fighting program into practice, liquidating several hundred convicted criminals on high sentences in a faked accident at a military training ground.

Directed by Juliusz Machulski, 19. Południk leans on a strong ensemble — Andrzej Grabowski, Jan Frycz, Sławomir Orzechowski — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 2003.