100. Zenek; movie review

ZENEK
Cert 15
116 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language

"I would rather die than watch this. Watching this movie is worse than cancer."
The above quote is from a real user review on Internet Movie Database and it wasn't alone. Indeed, Zenek has an average review rating of an appalling 1.4/10.
Indeed, my expectations of Jan Hryniak's film were so low that I told Mrs W that I would face it on my own, saving her from what I presumed would be a mind-numbing two hours.
Therefore, I can only conclude that there is a concerted campaign against it because it really isn't bad at all.
Sure, I get that some will be riled by music which has been dubbed 'disco polo' because it isn't their taste but, surely, nobody pressganged them into watching this biopic about Polish singer Zenon Martyniuk.
Anyway, whatever they say, this is not the worst movie I have seen this week, much less in my whole life.
Actually, it is a pretty engaging tale of a working-class lad with an unusual voice, a pleasing personality and a strange penchant for Euro pop.
When his music taste is quizzed, he simply points out, it makes people dance and smile.
What's wrong with that?
Hryniak's film stars Jakub Zajac as the young Zenek who has to come out from under the apron strings of his mother (Agnieszka Suchora) to become the darling of those seeking a good time.
Zenek's story is narrated by some of the characters who played key roles in his life and it takes in some hair-raising moments on his journey to the top.
It also stars Karol Dziuba as his best friend and keyboard player who is at his side throughout and  Klara Bielawka as the girl who captured his heart.
Krzysztof Czeczot plays the 21st-century Zenek once success had arrived and the money has rolled in.
He is painted as a decent chap who has considerable wealth but, interestingly, portrayed as failing to give his family enough attention as he is devoted to spending time on the road.
In other words, despite the real singer being an executive producer and even appearing at its finale, this isn't a total soft-soap biopic.
However, it is how he would like to be seen with a couple of incidents added for dramatic effect.
If you know the Martyniuk story, it is worth watching and probably is even if you don't.
It is certainly better than cancer!

Reasons to watch: Amiable biopic
Reasons to avoid: Not very meaty

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: Yes
Nudity: Bare bum
Overall rating: 6.5/10

Did you know? Zenon Martyniuk's smash hit “Przez Twe oczy zielone” (“Because of Your Green Eyes”) is the second most popular Polish song on YouTube with over 100 million views.

Final word. Zenon Martyniuk: "The film had to be tweaked a bit to make it more dynamic. The scriptwriters added some additional threads. I am prepared that people will compare, look for what was really and what was made up." Radio ZET

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