Kazimierz Ostrowicz

Gruby

The Epidemic

Based on a true outbreak of smallpox in Wroclaw. A young doctor picks up a girl and they go to bed, but the night is ruined by the doctor being called to the epidemic. The doctor has to leave, and when it is all over, runs into her with another man.

Przyłbice i kaptury

Droga

Marianek is an unlucky man and not successful in his affairs. At the same time, he is a dove-hearted man, sensitive to other people’s misfortunes and harm, willing to help, even at his own expense. He is always ready to solve the problems of others, although he is usually not very good at it. His favorite saying is “absolutely”.

Magneto

Years later, Lena returns to Poland, accompanied by a French journalist, to learn the truth about her father.

The Emergency Exit

A provincial town in the early 1980s. Among its residents is the Kolęda family. Mrs. Kolęda is an energetic community leader, her husband, a gentle soul, takes care of raising ducks and cultivating flowers in "tunnels" at home. Their daughter, Dorota, is a pretty and unemployed young woman. The intrigue begins when the community leader finds out that she is going to become a grandmother. Fear of losing authority, scandal, and embarrassment inspires her to come up with a truly diabolical idea - they need to buy a fiancé for Dorota with a pre-arranged divorce.

The Codes

An elderly man returns to Poland to find his long-lost son, missing since World War II. In his quest the man is forced to contemplate the elusive and coded nature of truth itself.

Index

The story begins in March of 1968, the days of students protests. A hot- headed student protests the Dean's decision to expell a fellow student on fake accusation charges, upon which he drops out of university rather than make a compromise. He loses everything in the process: his girlfriend, housing privileges - he becomes a coal deliverer. On the job he witnesses an accident that causes death of a fellow worker. He decides to write a story, which is good and a publishing house wants to print it, but only after some corrections are made. He refuses again and the story is not printed. Finally, a story is commercialized and made into a succesful film and brings fame to the original author.

The Doll

Set in the 19th century Warsaw. The indolence of aristocrats who, secure with their pensions, are too lazy to undertake new business risks, frustrates Wokulski. His ability to make money is respected but his lack of family and social rank is condescended to. Because of his "help" (in secret) to "the doll's" impecunious but influential father, the girl becomes aware of his affection.

The Birthday Trip

When the hot-dog vendor Kaj from the small town of Skælskør in Denmark turns 40, his friends take him on a trip to Poland, to a long party with cheap liquor and emigration eager polish ladies. It will go merrily, but it gets serious for Kaj as he meets a girl who mistakes him for a wealthy Toyota dealer she has exchanged letters with.