The Doll

Set in 19th century Poland at a time when electricity and automobiles were imminent and the aristocracy was falling apart, this is an emotional, unrequited love story between a successful merchant and an arrogant, vapid, beautiful, smart, aristocratic young lady.

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The young lady and her father conspire to cheat the merchant out of his money. They do everything they can to get him to pay for her family’s considerable debts. When her father dies, it seems the wedding is a given, but that’s not what happens.

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The pacing, the casting, the way the plot turns and changes, even the set the built in downtown Warsaw are all fantastic. I really enjoyed this.

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Based on a book written in 1890 by Bolesław Prus, this is about class struggle, an obsessive love affair that clouded clear judgement, and a woman's desire to decide her own fate. It’s visually beautiful and has a very clever ending.

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