Documentary series, called "doc soap", were very popular on Polish Television for some time, and that included Prawdziwe psy, the series which triggered off and provided input (themes and experiences) to Patryk Vega's screenplay for Pitbull.
"Each 'PitBull' scene is based on documentation. But, for example, five characters whom the audience sees in the film, have been compiled from some two hundred policemen whom I have got to know", says Vega referring to his work on the TV documentary series Prawdziwe psy / True Pigs and Taśmy grozy / Tapes of Horror, and goes on to say, "All the events shown in the film have happened in reality, although they were spread across the years and involved different people."
Pitbull shows every-day police work the way it is, without unnecessary commentary, using documentary form, reportage photographs and a surprising (for a film debut and the controversial subject-matter) cast including such stars of Polish cinema and television as Małgorzata Foremniak, Danuta Stenka, Janusz Gajos and Andrzej Grabowski. Genuine and compelling, their acting helps to build a true, realistic and document-like image of the police. The film enjoyed such popularity that Vega was able to do a series - and the story turned a full circle: first there was a documentary series, than a film, then again a series.
The story evolves around five CID policemen, each of whom has his own problems. Gebels (Andrzej Grabowski) fights with his wife to retain the right to raise their child; Metyl (Krzysztof Stroiński) is an alcoholic; Nielat (Rafał Mohr) is a heroine addict; Benek (Janusz Gajos) suffers from a heart disease, but wants to work another two months before he can retire; finally, Despero (Marcin Dorociński) implicates himself in a love affair with a daughter of a criminal whom he is trying to find. Says Vega, "A stirring, different vision of Polish police has prompted me to address what might seem a stale subject and to write a screenplay for a feature film which would not be trimmed by the censorship of the genre or the medium".
- Pitbull, Poland 2005. Written and directed by Patryk Vega, photography: Mirosław Brożek, art director: Elwira Pluta, costume designer: Justyna Stolarz, music: Radosław Łuka, editing: Jarosław Barzan, producers: Waldemar Dziki, Dorota Kurzewska, Tomasz Kurzewski. Starring: Marcin Dorociński (Superintendent Sławomir Desperski "Despero"), Janusz Gajos (Inspector Zbigniew Chyb "Benek"), Andrzej Grabowski (Inspector Jacek Goc "Gebels"), Rafał Mohr (Superintendent Krzysztof Magiera "Nielat"), Krzysztof Stroiński (Inspector Mirosław Saniewski "Metyl"), Ryszard Filipski (Wor), Małgorzata Foremniak (Kryśka Szymańczyk, Metyl's partner), Jolanta Fraszyńska (lorry driver's wife), Jadwiga Jankowska-Cieślak (doctor), Danuta Stenka (child killer), Weronika Rosati (Dżemma, Said's daughter), Waldemar Walisiak (Said, Dżemma's father). Produced by Dziki Film, ATM Sp. z o.o. Co-financed by Agencja Produkcji Filmowej. Distribution: Studio Interfilm. Duration: 97 min. Released on 9th April 2005.
Awards:
- 2005 - Directing Award for Patryk Vega, Acting Award for Marcin Dorociński at the Koszalin Film Meetings 'The Young and the Film'; Special Jury Award for Patryk Vega at the Courmayeur International Mystery Festival; Zbyszek Cybulski Award for Marcin Dorociński.
Author: Joanna Pawluśkiewicz, December 2006