Andrzej Wajda-Panny z Wilka ('Young Girls of Wilko') (1979)

After fainting at the funeral of a close friend, thirty something Wiktor decides to return to Wilko, after fifteen years away. He gets entangled in a family of five women who had all been in love with him at one time or another, their feelings unrequited except for one but she has passed away in the interim. Wiktor comes to the realization that he’s had a considerable impact on the town and its people and his presence, in turn, forces the young girls of Wilko to evaluate their complicated lives and personal failures. Vanguard Cinema




Set in the late '20s. A thirtyish young man, who heads a small factory, faints at the funeral of a close friend. He decides to go home to his aunt and uncle for a while, but gets involved with a family of five women who had been in love with him at one time though he had apparently loved only one, who, unknown to him, has died since his departure. The women are mainly disillusioned with life or estranged from husbands while the youngest has a crush on him. (http://imdb.com/title/tt0079696/plotsummary)




Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, this breathtaking Andrzej Wajda films brings Jaroslaw Iwaszkiewicz’s classic novel to the big screen. After 15 years away, Wiktor returns to Wilko, where he spent a very important part of his life. He comes to realize his own personal impact on the town and meets many people whom he will never forget. His presence, in turn, forces the young girls of Wilko to reconsider their complicated lives and personal failures. (Product Description)




After 15 years of being away, Wiktor (as played by Daniel Olbrychski) returns to visit his aunt and uncle at the advice of a doctor to get away for a while and recover from the loss of the death of his best friend. Nearby, in a gorgeous manor house, live five sisters whose lives were always filled with talking about Wiktor. Wiktor's return rekindles the love four of the sisters had for him. Despite the years apart, Wiktor becomes the focal point of discussions of the maids of Wilko once more.




Wiktor is interested in all of the sisters, but is cowardly and indecisive, and therefore cannot make a decision on which one to pursue. The four sisters are lead on occasionally, but each is crushed when Wiktor gives another sister attention. Out of naiveté Wiktor does not seem to realize how much they all care for him and out of fear does not know how to respond when they tell him of their interest in him. (amazon.com)




The film is a peaceful one with little action, but one that touches your emotions. In this 111-minute film, the viewers are given a glimpse into the past, and how a man regrets the mistakes of his youth and how his inaction left four women longing for him. "Young Girls of Wilko" (or "Panny Z Wilka" in Polish) is based on a novel, whose author appears in the film as the old man who watches from time to time. The story is enchanting and filled with artistic beauty. Overall, this 1979 film, directed by Andrzej Wajda, is definitely one any culture seeking viewer should see. (amazon.com)