Night Train

An intimate psychological study and a poetic tale of loneliness, Night Train brings two voyagers together accidentally in a train compartment. The subtle game of emotions— changing from mutual aversion to closeness without hope— is played out against the background of a microcosm of the human experience. A coquette, bored with her husband, attempts to seduce every available man; a former prisoner of a concentration camp fights his insomnia; old women go on a pilgrimage; and a skirt-chaser seeks his prey. With the arrival of police searching for a murderer, everything changes. It soon turns out that this seemingly average community is able to behave in a most unforeseen manner. An artistic work of great subtlety, Night Train offers itself open to various interpretations.

Accolades

1959 – Złota Kaczka (Golden Duck Award, presented by the monthly Film), awarded in 1960.

Cast & Crew

Directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz. Written by Jerzy Kawalerowicz and Jerzy Lutowski. Cinematography by Jan Laskowski. Production de- sign by Ryszard Potocki. Music by Andrzej Trzaskowski. Film editing by Wiesława Otocka. Production management: Jerzy Rutowicz. © Studio Filmowe Kadr. Cast: Lucyna Winnicka (Marta), Leon Niemczyk (Jerzy), Teresa Szmigielówna (Lawyer’s wife), Zbigniew Cybulski (Staszek), Helena Dąbrowska (Train controller), Ignacy Machowski (Passenger), Roland Głowacki (Murderer), Aleksander Sewruk (Lawyer). 1959 – Venice Film Festival – Georges Melies Premio Evrotecnica for Jerzy Kawalerowicz and special mention for Lucyna Winnicka.