An anti-naturalistic film which is more Bressonian than Robert Bresson himself, especially in its style, though less in tone and inspiration. The murder trial is not just an event in the chronicle of Poland of the 30s; it stresses the need for respect for any single person, even a criminal. The rights and dignity of the individual should be respected in any political system . It is neither in the past nor the present. Such timelessness may prove beneficial to the Polish cinema so dependent on history.
Time in which the events take place is bliterated: it can be nowadays. The culprits have even been deprived of their surnames - it can be just any one: you and me. And so, an anti-naturalistic film. More Bressonian than Robert Bresson himself, for the choice of its style, but not so much for its tone, nor interpretation.
