After two adaptations, with the 1982 version considered a Christmastime classic for Polish families, Forgotten Love can seem like a redundant take on the iconic Polish novel. With twenty more minutes, it seems like the new Netflix adaptation could only improve its take through better production design, and sure, it certainly delivers that pre-war aesthetic through period-accurate costumes, props, and sets. However, Forgotten Love takes a more streamlined approach to the novel’s plot, through changing certain character choices. Without spoiling too much, some choices paint certain characters in a better light, while other changes prove to add an entertaining twist, such as the humorous way the villagers defend Kosiba. Znachor takes the 1937 story into the present, bringing a new generation through the emotional journey of the cherished Polish tale.
Synopsis
A once-respected surgeon who's lost his family and his memory gets a chance at redemption when he reconnects with someone from his forgotten past.
Storyline
After losing his memory, respected surgeon Rafal Wilczur now lives as impoverished vagrant Antoni Kosiba, though this hasn’t affected his intuitive genius as a surgeon. It has, however, separated him from his daughter Marysia. After 15 years, they bump into each other again without any recognition of one another, but with a yearning for the family that they lost.
TLDR
Yes, amnesia plots have been done so many times before, but this adaptation does it pretty well! No wonder the novel is a Polish classic.
What stands out
The biggest change in Forgotten Love compared to the two film adaptations is the character Zoska. Zoska is not present at all in previous versions, given that she’s not a character in the novel or in the sequels of the first adaptation. Written as a secondary main character and Kosiba’s love interest, the addition of Zoska could have been the film’s weak point. Instead, Zoska is an excellent change, with Anna Szymanczyk’s performance. The scene where Zoska disallows the Count’s family doctor to enter their barn is so entertaining, and as the peasant woman fights against the upper-class doctor for the nobility, it makes sense for a story all about class dynamics.
I don’t normally watch foreign movies because of voice over and subtitles. It was recommended to me and I watched it and loved it. Highly recommend it to anyone who wants a great humanitarian story.
The Polish Les Miserables! What a great movie! Beautifully shot with excellent scenery and set design. Watch it in polish with English sub titles for best effect.
Excellent movie! The actors were great especially the 2 leads . I liked how the characters reunited at the end! Well done! A must see ; giving one an uplifted feeling! So refreshing a romantic delight!
A wonderful snd very interesting movie! My Dad was a dedicated and devoted Dr. In the mts of Ky. And that helped me enjoy it even so much more! the acting was incredible snd so was the scenery!!
Wonderful!
Better than most Oscar nominees
I vote for this one!
Excellent feel good storyline, very good casting. HOWEVER: whoever wrote the voiceover needs to return to the school bench immediately or start write for animated children shows. Back in the era of the movie people did not speak like we speak today. Nobody used the word “scumbag”, or say ”in any case” or walk into a room unannounced and somebody says “what’s going on” etc etc etc very painful to listen how we talk today and yet the storyline was to have taken place in early 1900. The voices too should have been much more authentic! Good grief folks, you all know better. Be more intuitive, put yourself inside the story, era and ever so powerful emotions. Still a great movie, do watch it. Thank you. Volker Grady ????????
The movie laudes the one personality trait that is Foreign to Many of us:
HUMILITY. THE GOOD DR never lost that trait despite losing his memory.
this should have brought Ignacy Liss an academy award excellent portrayal
Excellent movie..
romance novel, very beautiful photography. We already needed to see something that wasn’t Hollywood