THE HATER
Poland, 2020, 136 minutes, Colour.
Maciej Musialowski, Vanessa Aleksander, Danuta Stenka, Jacek Koman, Maciej Stuhr, Adam Grabowsky.
Directed by Jan Komasa.
The Hater was released in cinemas in Poland just before the coronavirus outbreak and was almost immediately moved to streaming release, seen on Netflix throughout the world.
The director, Jan Komasa, had previously made the arresting film, Corpus Christi, about a young man who was released from a detention centre to work in a mill – but disguises himself as a priest and takes the place of the parish priest, ingratiating himself with the congregation.
This film is also about a disturbed young man, Tomasz, played effectively and puzzlingly by Maciej Musialowski. In the first moments of the film, he presents himself as a victim, accused of plagiarism but defending himself to the professors but then expelled from the University. It emerges that he is a pathological liar, mental difficulties in the past, and with his family.
The film follows his quest to find himself a substantial job, a place in society, money and comfort. He ingratiates himself with an affluent family who lend him money for his studies, and has a brief relationship with their younger daughter. He applies for many jobs but finally succeeds with a very dubious company which is hired by anonymous clients, investigates targets, especially political, here a mayoral candidate for Warsaw. There is surveillance, creation of stories, fake news, undermining of campaigns.
Tomasz ingratiates himself with the target candidate, who is supported by the family, and makes a favourable impression with the candidate himself, only to set up the candidate, about whom there are gay rumours, spiking is drink, persuading him to go into a gay club, film him. However, he also persuades the candidate to stay in the race and he apologises to his staff.
Audiences have to pay attention to some of the detail and may miss various steps in the development of the plot, especially Tomasz and his playing computer games and linking himself with a mentally disturbed gamer and primes in to violence against the candidate.
Because he looks somewhat innocent and people believe in him, Tomasz is able to persuade most people that he is authentic – but, not only is he a pathological liar but he is a destroyer, an anarchist, with ambitions only for himself.
In an age of fake news, of cyber attacks, of ruining reputations, this is a story that is alerting and topical.
1. Title? Expectations? Atmosphere of hate? In contemporary Poland, Warsaw, politics, culture, mores?
2. The Polish setting, the end of the 2010s, the background of the Communist legacy, changes at the end of the 20th century? Greater freedoms? Yet repressions? Rise of fascism?
3. The story of Tomasz, his age, the background of his family, the mystery about his mother, mental problems in the family? His plagiarism, the interview with the professors, his expulsion, exploiting the professor with her autograph in his book? His look of innocence, his tear? The truth, his being a pathological liar?
4. His visiting the family, his story about his studies and work, their financial support, the relationship in the past? The parents, affluence, political connections, the support of the mayoral candidate? Their daughter in England studying? Gabi, held up by the demonstrations, at the meal, the attraction to Tomasz? His leaving his phone, recording the conversation, the adverse comments?
5. Going with Gabi to the club, the dancing, the drugs? The young woman, the rental for the apartment? Setting himself up? His job applications? Promoting himself? Going to the company, the encounter with Beata, her harsh manner, the interview, her seeing through him, her assistant, Kamil, giving him the month’s testing, his work and diligence?
6. Beata, strong, exploitative moral stances, anonymous clients, subversive activity, no holds barred, surveillance, phone tapping, fake news, looking for scandals? The revelation that the client was the conservative mayoral candidate? Tomasz visiting his home, his daughter, asking for the money, the thug driving him and bashing him? The target for the company, the alternate mayoral candidate, Tomasz and his idea of infiltrating the campaign, the support of the friendly family, their appreciating him, his helping with the drinks at the art auction? Getting high with Gabi? Gaining confidence?
7. The audience trying to assess Tomasz, what he believed in, any moral scruple? His lies? Political adherence?
8. Ingratiating himself with Pavel, the gay rumours, talking straight to Pavel, his being employed, his being believed? His plans, the dinner date, spiking the drink, taking into the gay club, the dancing, his losing control, the photos? Pavel with the staff, the apology, Tomasz urging him on, the continued campaign?
9. The musical score, the backgrounds, operatic, the concerts, the opera performance and the violinists, and the intercutting of dramatic incidents with the music?
10. Social media, Tomasz and his phone, the messages, with Gabi, recording conversations?
11. The political demonstration, the police, the violence, the family and the death of their daughter?
12. His ingratiating himself with Beata, the drinks, the walk, going home, the sexual encounter, her son and the photos? His returning at the end, with his file and his hold over her? Her acceptance, the new mission? And his getting rid of Kamil?
13. The computer games, the avatars, the combats, the contact with Guzek, the games, confrontations, the demand for money, the story about the ill mother? Controlling Guzek for the attack?
14. The raid on the arms store, killing the guard, the rendezvous and Guzek picking up the arms?
15. The buildup to the social, the family, can be returning from the US, the concert, Gu thezek entering, firing, fears and panic, the deaths, confronting Pavel, shooting him? Tomasz and his confrontation with Guzek, being stabbed, considered a hero?
16. In hospital, the visit of the security police, the interview, Tomasz and his indignation?
17. Visiting the family, their sadness – and the camera outside the window and ascending? The question of Tomasz and his future?
