Nights and Days

Nominated for the 1976 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (it lost to Black and White in Color), this 250-minute Polish epic, based on the four-volume novel by Maria Dabrowska, follows the personal tragedies and triumphs of a family during the tumultuous years from 1863 (which marked a failed uprising for Polish independence) to 1914 (the start of World War I, which culminated in Polish freedom from Russian rule). Nicely showcased here with a fine widescreen transfer, Nights and Days is a lovely-looking production, with elaborate sets and colorful costume designs; unfortunately, however, the story is less-than-intriguing and the performances are wooden. Filmmaker Jerzy Antszak seemed to be so caught up in making a grand epic that he forgot to give the film a heart—for all of the ornate trappings, Nights and Days feels like a drugstore paperback novel on steroids (not to mention one that will confuse viewers who have little knowledge of Polish history), and despite the Oscar nomination, the film was never theatrically released in the United States. DVD extras include director and cast bios. Libraries with larger foreign film collections may want to consider, but for most this is a strictly optional purchase. (P. Hall)