Blind Chance

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Blind Chance

1987

2h 2m

Drama

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73%

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11 Reviews

86%

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2,500+ Ratings

Witek (Bogusław Linda) is a young medical student who is no longer sure whether he wants to become a doctor, and his future will be determined by whether or not he makes the train that he is running to catch. Through three possible scenarios revolving around specific choices, Witek experiences his possible futures depending upon whether he decides to continue with his schooling, join up with the Communist Party or become an anti-Communist rebel.

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Richard Peña

Chicago Reader

The performances are uniformly excellent. Yet somehow this seems strangely hollow.

May 22, 2014

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Sam Adams

Philadelphia City Paper

There's no room in Blind Chance's deterministic universe for character or personal choice, which may be why the film feels less fleshed-out, more schematic than some of Kieslowski's others.

Aug 30, 2006

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Noel Murray

AV Club

Linda's possible futures split into three while he's running to catch a train, but Kieslowski keeps his audience aware of the infinite branching points in every life, while insisting that people don't fundamentally change.

Aug 30, 2006

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

"Every idea has its period of error," explains an ex-Stalinist party member to Witek, something that can be applied to the overall emotional effectuality of Blind Chance.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 18, 2021

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Nathanael Hood

The Retro Set

Blind Chance's existence as a political film cannot be ignored, but personally I found these subtexts eclipsed by the film's unearthly beauty.

Rated: 8/10

Dec 28, 2018

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Josef Braun

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

But one of the elements that makes this film so remarkable, and so cohesive, is that whether Witek finds himself a communist apparatchik or a dissident activist, some essential self dictates his actions.

Nov 18, 2015

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S R

A unique story of a student in Poland under communism. It takes on the issues of the party, corruption and loyalty. It was not perfect, but it was ambitious and entertaining. I am certain this had to be censored. Saw it because it was on TCM. RUS

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/17/24

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dave s

While it may not be up there with some of his classics (The Dekalog, the Three Colors Trilogy, The Double Life of Veronique), Krzysztof Kieslowski's Blind Chance is an interesting meditation on how random chance impacts our individual destinies. Witek (Boguslaw Linda) is a medical student, unsure of where life is leading him. Told in three parts, all beginning with Witek trying to catch a departing commuter train, the film's plot (and Witek's fate) hinge on the outcome of his pursuit of the train, heavily influencing his political ideologies and personal relationships. It's thought-provoking material throughout, bolstered by Linda's strong performance and an intelligent script that will have the viewer considering the random events that have influenced their own lives.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

How chance could change someone's life

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

Blind Chance is very much in the vein of the other Kieslowski films: well-shot, very sensuous, dramatic and wistful score, frequent use of symbolism. I feel like if I understood the symbols, Polish culture and history, then I would rate this higher. Also, be warned that the DVD transfer is poor and the colors are often awful. I suppose it is a testament to the film's aesthetic qualities that I still found Blind Chance a pleasure to view for them alone.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Blind Chance is a movie that happens at you; whenever you start to feel comfortable with how everything is going and who everyone is it will quickly change up on you twisting your feelings for the main character. The base idea is about different outcomes from a single moment in someone's life. This is a very, very good film that I think that everyone needs to witness and this is not an uncommon feeling given the director being Kieslowski who seemed to create only the highest quality films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Propably one of the greatest screeplays ever written.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Krzysztof Kieslowski

Director

Bogusław Linda

Witek

Tadeusz Łomnicki

Werner

Zbigniew Zapasiewicz

Adam

Bogusława Pawelec

Czuszka

Marzena Trybala

Werka

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Synopsis

Witek (Bogusław Linda) is a young medical student who is no longer sure whether he wants to become a doctor, and his future will be determined by whether or not he makes the train that he is running to catch. Through three possible scenarios revolving around specific choices, Witek experiences his possible futures depending upon whether he decides to continue with his schooling, join up with the Communist Party or become an anti-Communist rebel.

Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Producer: Jacek Szeligowski
Screenwriter: Krzysztof Kieslowski
Production Co: Zespol Filmowy "Tor"
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Polish
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 11, 2015
Runtime: 2h 2m

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