Review of Golem (1980) by Orlok W — 14 Mar 2012

Piotr Szulkin's first feature Golem, is a sepia soaked look into a future where nuclear war has ravaged mankind forcing scientists to carry out a program where they "improve" on the human race using technological advancements.

Our main character is one of these technologically improved human beings, known as a Pernat. The film has a very claustrophobic almost having kafka-esque feel, as we follow this Pernat around. It's loaded with surrealism, black humor, social commentary and lots of absurdity.

As he comes into contact with normal human's it begins to become clear that this Pernat is more human than the actual humans. He shows signs of kindness and decency when no one else does, much to the dismay of the scientists which created him.

The film is commentary on the need for individual in society and how this group-think mentality leads to the destruction of pretty much everything that makes us human. It makes sense that this was Szulkin's first feature because it's loaded with interesting imagery and commentary but it's not nearly as fluid as the other film of his I have seen: 'O-Bi, O-Ba - The End of Civilization ".

I think Szulkin was still making the transition to a more narrative focused story structure but it still has a lot of things going for it and features some homages to films like Brazil, Citizen Kane, and The Trial, among others.