Operation Hyacinth

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Operation Hyacinth

2021

1h 46m

Mystery & Thriller

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100%

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8 Reviews

86%

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50+ Ratings

Not satisfied with the result of a murder investigation in Warsaw's gay community, an officer in 1980s communist Poland resolves to uncover the truth.

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Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

Director Piotr Domalewski evokes a an atmosphere where danger lurks in darkened corridors. Marcin Ciaston's shrewd award-winning screenplay is terrific, and avoids leaning on the sensational.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 4, 2021

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Odie Henderson

RogerEbert.com

Ciastoń's script ... weaves a compelling and complex web of anger, suspense, and romance while simultaneously indicting the Hyacinth system and its participants.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 13, 2021

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

A gritty mystery with a smart script inspired by Poland’s shameful 1980s treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 11, 2022

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David Reddish

Queerty

Even if the real-life initiative never existed, Operation Hyacinth would succeed as an engrossing thriller. This is one of the best films of 2021.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 20, 2022

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Steve Erickson

Gay City News

Operation Hyacinth succumbs to formula at times... But Marcin Ciaston's script is sturdy enough to carry the film along suspensefully.

Dec 17, 2021

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Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

The stale nicotine-stained misery of the normalcy pedalled as "lawful" is bleak enough to make you root for the triumph of individuality. In whatever form that comes.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 28, 2021

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PridePosterStudios

Climax had me clutching my pearls!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/15/24

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Elena K

What a gem! Cinematography is mesmerizing, the muted colors are truly reminiscent of the gray soviet era mood. There is little music which makes it so much mote realistic. And of course the actors are fantastic! The writing is top notch and kept me reeled in for the whole run of the movie. Just a high quality all around film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/23

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Janicke J

moving and sadly believable, at least after having seen the ten times longer series The Mire, set in the same period but without any protagonist or plot line as captivating as this one

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/05/23

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jerry f

One of the best movies I've watched lately. Based historic events and presented in a manner that keeps you wanting to see more as it advances. The plot is excellent and Tomasz Zietek does an outstanding performance. Definitely a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

A boring movie, slow events, and did not offer anything new except sympathy for some.. I did not enjoy watching it

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

A dark time in Polish history successfully told What appeared to be a Polish version of Cruising at the beginning is definitely not. It is a successful neo noir, controversial due to its subject matter for a Polish fiction, which recounts a police investigation into a period during which thousands of homosexuals and heterosexuals related to them were persecuted, mistreated, booked and sometimes compulsively detained. This is another of those films that strongly recreates that oppressive period climate, but also everyday "behind the iron curtain".

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Piotr Domalewski

Director

Tomasz Ziętek

Robert

Hubert Milkowski

Arek

Marek Kalita

Edward

Adrianna Chlebicka

Halinka

Tomasz Schuchardt

Wojtek

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Synopsis

Not satisfied with the result of a murder investigation in Warsaw's gay community, an officer in 1980s communist Poland resolves to uncover the truth.

Director: Piotr Domalewski
Producer: Joanna Szymanska
Screenwriter: Marcin Ciastoń
Production Co: ShipsBoy, Polski Instytut Sztuki Filmowej, Haka Films
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Polish
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 13, 2021
Runtime: 1h 46m

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