Symmetry (2003)

Description:
Director Konrad Niewolski’s second feature is an atmospheric transposition of the prison-movie genre to a contemporary Polish setting. Well received at home, the film provides a frank account of current prison condition in a plot about a falsely accused young man who turns from callow youth to callous con. College student Lukasz (Arek Detmer) is arrested and accused of assaulting an old lady, who mistakenly picks him out of a line-up. The hapless Lukasz soon finds himself holed up with a typical movie assortment of cons. His only hope to survive the constant threat of sudden violence is to adapt to the prevailing dog-eat-dog philosophy. Presenting the prison in pallid hues of green and grey, director Niewolski displays a strong visual sense and gets the best from his actors.