SPIRAL

Poland, 1978, 83 minutes, Colour.
Jan Nowicki.
Directed by Krysztof Zanussi.

Aa Polish psychological drama. Directed by the prolific Polish director, Krysztof Zanussi, it is made up of two parts. The first shows a depressed stranger encountering people at a ski resort and then being lost in the mountains with the people searching for him. The second part is his decline and suicide in a psychiatric ward in the city. The claustrophobic presentation of the second part is in marked contrast with the beauty and isolated grandeur of the mountain scenery.

The film is perceptive on the presentation of a depressed character and his inability to cope with life. The film is strong in its criticism of current hospital practice, the use of drugs and the treatment of psychiatric patients. The film is a grim look at a contemporary social and medical health problem.

1. An interesting psychological drama? Its overall impact? For what audience? The points being made about illnesst death?

2. The Polish atmosphere of the film? The presentation of the mountain scenery for the first half of the film and its authentic atmosphere? The contrast with the claustrophobic effect of the hospital in the second half? The finale with the hero disappearing in the mountain landscape?

3. The significance of the title, its reference to Piontek? Indication of themes. illness, death?

4. The introduction to Piontek? His arrival at the resort, the bridge, his kicking the keys over the ravine, his presence at the inn? The details of his encounter with the various people, their recognizing him and his putting them off, his ways of alienating them? The woman waiting, the young people and their discussionsand his interruption and contradictions, the sympathetic couple, the old man with the wood etc.? How well did this delineate his character? Indicate his illness, his torment?

5. The contrast with the ordinary people at the inn? Those who were favourable towards him, those with unfavourable reactions? Their interests, enjoyment of lifey capacity for relationships? Their being insulted by him and their reaction?

6. His being lost on the mountains, the depression, the impulse towards suicide? The detailed presentation of the search - the people searching in the snow, the many helicopter sequences, his discovery, the rescue itself? The importance of the varying moods of the weather and the mountain landscapes?

7. How well did the film communicate the experience of depression, its nature?

8. The transition to the second part of the film and interiors? The discussion about Piontek, the analysis of his background, illness, depression? The various attitudes of the staff towards helping him, tests, meditation?

9. Sympathy towards him an he lay in hospital, the experience of the mountains, the search, his pain? His impending death and his reaction to this? Mental illness? The sympathetic staff? The visit of the woman whom he had rebuffed and her kindness? His ability to communicate his feelings, inability?

10. Did the visit of the woman help in communication, sympathy?

11. The film's tracing his decline?

12. The build-up towards his death, unwrapping the bandage, locking the nurses in the room, falling out the window. his lying in the snow and the various people gathering?

13. A portrait of an individual, a picture of society, physical and mental health, psychology?