Tarpans

A little-known film by Kazimierz Kutz, which—as the director himself emphasized—was intended as an attempt to reach a broad audience. The action of "The Tarpans" takes place in the depths of the Masurian wilderness, at an experimental breeding center where trials are conducted to "wild" horses, aimed at restoring their natural instincts and strengthening the breed. However, this process turns out to have a profound effect on the people working at the center as well. The most affected is the manager—a former Warsaw insurgent, a bitter and withdrawn man living almost entirely in solitude. His wife Nina increasingly feels the sting of emotional neglect and the monotony of life in isolation. The situation becomes more complicated with the arrival of Jędrek, a young drifter eager for summer adventures, through whose perspective the narrative is told. The boy courts Basia, a young graduate of animal husbandry, who, however, secretly harbors feelings for the center’s manager. The emotional and psychological tensions within this peculiar love quadrangle form the core of the story. Foregrounded as well are the atmospheric shots of the forest, scenes involving horses, and humorous social episodes. Noteworthy is also the performance of Karol Rómmel—a distinguished equestrian expert and non-professional actor, previously known from Andrzej Wajda’s "Lotna."