• Synopsis
  • Awards
  • Credits
  • Synopsis

    Thirty-year-old Joe is abducted by schoolteacher Pimko and placed in a school where “daily universal impotence” is drummed into the students.

    This institutional belittlement exposes Joe to the brutality of the social, cultural, and political pretensions of both teachers and classmates. Trapped between the expectations of others and the perils of solitude, Joe finds refuge in his own childishness. Based on Gombrowicz’s surreal autobiographical novel, Skolimowski’s film brings to wonderful comic life Joe’s escape from the school, his bizarre visit to the country estate of his relatives, and the ultimate flight with his cousin beneath the giant buttocks that have usurped the sun.

    Also known as: 30 Door Key.

  • Awards

    1991 Venice Film Festival

    • Nominated Golden Lion (Jerzy Skolimowski)
  • Credits

    Iain Glen
    Joey
    Crispin Glover
    Mintus
    Robert Stephens
    Prof. Pimco
    Fabienne Babe
    Sophie
    Pawel Bawolec
    Fizz
    Jerzy Binczycki
    Prof. Filidor
    Judith Godr²che
    Zoo
    Krzysztof Janczar
    Leo
    Tadeusz Lomnicki
    Uncle
    Jan Peszek
    Mr. Young
    Beata Pozniak
    Flora Gente
    Marek Probosz
    Syphonus
    Dorota Stalinska
    Mrs. Young
    Zbigniew Zamachowski
    Tom
    Artur Zmijewski
    Kopyrda
    Director
    Jerzy Skolimowski
    Writers (original book)
    Witold Gombrowicz
    Writers (screenplay)
    Joseph Kay
    Jerzy Skolimowski
    Producers
    Philippe Carcassonne
    Cinematography
    Witold Adamek

Photos