Back Then (2021)
1h 34m | PG-13
Marta is a romantic and a loser in school. She shares a room with her sister Kasia and grandma, who tells her granddaughters insurgency stories instead of fairy tales. In the room behind the wall, the parents - Tadek and Elżbieta - live their married life. He is an intelligent constantly humiliated by the state, he also makes his own moonshine after work and silently envies his prosperous brother in law. She is the leader of the "Solidarity" union at work, with the need for freedom and a dream to get out of Poland. The real adventure for the family starts when they manage to get their dream orange Fiat 126p. Ela and Tadek discover their appetite for trading and trips abroad, and the growing Marta will fall in love for the first time.
Director: Kinga Dębska
Studio: Studio Filmowe Kalejdoskop
Genre: Comedy, Drama, History
Video: 720p
Cast
Kinga Preis
as Elżbieta Makowska
Adam Woronowicz
as Tadeusz Makowski
Ewa Wiśniewska
as Grandma
Barbara Papis
as Marta Makowska
Alicja Warchocka
as Kasia Makowska
Milena Lisiecka
as Grażyna
Reviews
An entertaining and easy to watch light comedy showing the family life and many quirks of living in the late communist Poland. It's relies heavily on nostalgia as a "slice of life" film, but thankfully it's well observed and has definitely got the late 80s feel right. The cast is really good too, with solid performances from both Kinga Preis and Adam Woronowicz, an entertaining turn from Ewa Wiśniewska as the grandma and two kids who are both fantastic. Lots to like here and so many small relatable things that will ring true to many kids who grew up in this era.