“Forgotten Love” is a Polish drama movie directed by Michal Gazda and starring Leszek Lichota, Maria Kowalsk, and Ignacy Liss. It is based on the novel Znachor by Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz‘s iconic novel Znachor.
“Forgotten Love” is one of those movies with such a literary weight that, possessing a powerful story full of nuanced characters and a solid screenplay, it simply needs to surrender to the narrative thread to please the viewer.
If you enjoy epic films with strong character development and a significant literary influence, “Forgotten Love” is almost a safe bet.
Synopsis
The film tells the story of Rafal Wilczur, a respected surgeon professor who loses his family and his memory after being mugged. Years later, he is living as a poor healer named Antoni Klos when he meets his daughter, who is unaware of his true identity.
Movie Review
“Forgotten Love” is a technically well-made film that also boasts a strong screenplay, which evokes the epic nature of the human spirit and carries a heavy load of social justice. Whether you like it or not is a matter of personal taste, as everyone involved has done their job well in technical terms.
It is impossible not to mention the literary echoes that seem to permeate everything, reminiscent of Victor Hugo and those great novels of the 19th century. Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz was a young Polish writer who left behind his iconic novel, “Znachor,” which became a huge success (this is not the first time it has been adapted into a film). It is a novel that had all the elements to be adapted to the big screen, with such powerful characters that they captivate the audience solely through their story.
Regarding the cinematography, it is a well-made film that, although it may not appeal to everyone due to its classic and novelistic taste, has all the formal elements: well-developed subplots, good set design, photography, immersive music, and a montage pace that aligns with the story.
Is it an outdated story? That is for you and your idealism to judge. It is a story with a strong sense of justice that, deep down, holds a profound belief in the goodness of humanity and its emotions. It is a film (and novel) that almost becomes a social critique, very well-written in terms of structure and with clear intentions.
It is a high-quality adaptation of a high-quality novel, a story from the past about good and just men and the kindness of rural landscapes and their people.
Our Opinion
It may seem out of touch, old-fashioned, and a bit naive, but “Forgotten Love” manages to bring the literary essence of the story to the screen and create a narrative about the goodness of humanity, even in difficult circumstances.
Release Date
September 27, 2023
Where to Watch Forgotten Love
Director
The Cast
Mirosław Haniszewski
Mikołaj Grabowski
Izabela Kuna
Paweł Tomaszewski
Małgorzata Mikołajczak
