OPERATION HYACINTH/ HIACYNT

Poland, 2021, 111 minutes, Colour.

Tomasz Zietek, Hubert Milkowski, Marek Kalita.

Directed by Piotr Domalewski.

Operation Hyacinth was the name given to a special investigation during the communist era, specifically the 1980s, the action of this film taking place in 1985-1986.

This film functions as a portrait of police work, focusing on a young man, a detective, dominated by his father a police chief. The young man is conscientious, is also engaged to a fellow police officer who is in charge of data and information?

The plot involves a serial killer, the murder of gay men. In the background of the plot there is a university professor, various students, a mansion in the countryside for gay activity, the various clients, information, potential for blackmail. The young detective begins to investigate, working with a rather stolid partner, straight up-and-down, but observing the arrests, the interrogations, even some torture. There are many gay men arrested, fearful of being exposed.

The emotional complication of the plot involves the young detective going underground (memories of Al Pacino in Cruising) and investigating various people, going to parties, getting more information. And there the further complications his encounter with the young man with whom he is friendly, using him as a source of information, the young man attracted to him, kissing him. So, the narrative continues with the dilemma, the young detective continuing to investigate, with his own private office, gathering all the data, but becoming more suspicious of some of the officials the encounters with his father.

There is also his personal situation, his fiancee, his continued attraction to the friend, sexual experiences.

In the context, he feels trapped, is not loyal to his new friend, undergoes police reprimands, his father fixing the documentation so the continue in his work. However, he has yet to face the realities of his real self, sexual orientation, his future.

1. A police detection story? Mystery? But the background, the hunt for homosexuals? Framing them, interrogations, operation?
2. Poland, the 1980s, the Communist regime, repressive, the role of the police, secret police, special squads, for example against homosexual men? The setting of the film, 1985-1986, legislation, the special operation, Hyacinth (and Hyacinth as the Polish equivalent of the English-language Pansy)?
3. A Polish audience response to this story? Universal response? Stances about legislation on homosexuality, consequences, violence, human rights?
4. Robert as the central character, his age, experience, his father and his police experience and expertise? Following his father’s footsteps? Detective, investigations? His working with his partner, the partner and his straight up-and-down attitudes? Becoming part of the investigating squad?
5. The portrayal of police work, detentions, arrests, interrogations, torture, framing victims? The men, their activities, secrecy, fear of expose? The experience of violence?
6. The serial killer, the various victims, the investigations? Robert and his involvement? The effect on him? Wanting to prove himself? His fiancee, her work in the archives, the bond between them? Her character, matter-of-fact, dedicated to her work?
7. The characters and the intricacies of the plot? The information about the professor and the University? Information about the mansion in the country? Investigations as to the ownership, management, the visitors, the activities? The student, the contact with the professor? Interrogations, the professor giving information, the consequences for him, the death of the student?
8. Robert, the encounter with Arak, Robert undercover, the experience of the gay parties, his having to think about himself, the attraction to Arak, wanting to get information from Arak, about the mansion, the University, the contacts?
9. Arak, the kiss, the effect on Robert? Meetings with his father, the other authorities? The audience understanding the authorities, framing the homosexual men, exercising the violence? Robert’s realisation, his collecting all the data, his special room, the information on the wall? His father’s reactions? And the continued parcel about his own orientation?
10. The meetings with Arak, the consequences, the arrests, the interrogation, his trying to help Arak, clandestinely? Yet his father’s realisation?
11. Robert, his place in the police, reprimands, his father fixing the documentation, his future professionally, but his future in terms of himself, self-understanding, sexual orientation?