"Sexmission" has everything that a good movie needs - a plot, memorable characters, well written dialog and a bigger concept underlying the story. In fact there are two concept that meet at several points: the gender stereotypes seen from different perspectives and the totalitarian dystopia.
If I had to advertise the movie to non-Polish viewers (especially the English-speaking ones) perhaps I would give it a tag line "Orwell meets Benny Hill".
The beginning of the plot is well known - two hibernated men, Max and Albert, wake up after a great war in the hands of all-female totalitarian state. The women are brainwashed (a strong mockery of radical feminism) so they perceive males as a threat to the society. Our heroes realize that the ways they have dealt with women before - cheap compliments (Max) and appearing vulnerable (Albert) - will just not work here. The two men have to rely on their better features: wit, courage, honest male friendship and strong faith in humanity in their pursuit for freedom and restoring the laws of nature.
The political satire is very well constructed, since the women's society as presented in the movie has all the features of the totalitarian regime. The loyalty to the League (equivalent of the Party) is superior to all interpersonal relationships and what is the most significant, the League's propaganda purposely misrepresents reality as well as history.
The gender stereotypes are explored with rather positive attitude, showing that there's no use of denying our own nature and that the differences between the genders, even with their weaknesses, is what we are attracted to.
The outcome of these ideas is that you definitely become a better man and a better woman when you are allowed the freedom of thought.
I believe you don't have to "know Poland" to understand the movie, but in fact any experience with political (science) fiction is enough. Enjoy!
If I had to advertise the movie to non-Polish viewers (especially the English-speaking ones) perhaps I would give it a tag line "Orwell meets Benny Hill".
The beginning of the plot is well known - two hibernated men, Max and Albert, wake up after a great war in the hands of all-female totalitarian state. The women are brainwashed (a strong mockery of radical feminism) so they perceive males as a threat to the society. Our heroes realize that the ways they have dealt with women before - cheap compliments (Max) and appearing vulnerable (Albert) - will just not work here. The two men have to rely on their better features: wit, courage, honest male friendship and strong faith in humanity in their pursuit for freedom and restoring the laws of nature.
The political satire is very well constructed, since the women's society as presented in the movie has all the features of the totalitarian regime. The loyalty to the League (equivalent of the Party) is superior to all interpersonal relationships and what is the most significant, the League's propaganda purposely misrepresents reality as well as history.
The gender stereotypes are explored with rather positive attitude, showing that there's no use of denying our own nature and that the differences between the genders, even with their weaknesses, is what we are attracted to.
The outcome of these ideas is that you definitely become a better man and a better woman when you are allowed the freedom of thought.
I believe you don't have to "know Poland" to understand the movie, but in fact any experience with political (science) fiction is enough. Enjoy!