The synopsis for Day of the Wacko reads like a Polish version of Mr Wilson from the cartoon Dennis shown on Saturday mornings, many, many years ago. As is often the case I find these days, what I expect is what I always get.

Day of the Wacko plays like a book, with a constant stream of vocal narrative representing the thoughts of the character Adam in what is, at its most simple, a journey with a man who is losing not just the will to live, but his reason for living.

What surprised me about the film was its constant attention to detail. There seems to be a purposeful intricacy with which the script and the character insists on creating this persona of a man who seems to substitute the lack of control in his life in general, to control in his apartment. However, this control presents itself as an illusionary curtain both for he viewer and the character, as we gradually understand a man’s loneliness and realisation that he doesn’t actually have any control whatsoever.

Adam’s life is a spiralled mess. At home, he seems unable to communicate with his neighbours and those around him, as his freedom and space are constantly invaded by others. Away from his home, his son seems lost, and he feels a generational gap which again accentuate his inability to communicate, and the rather tepid relationship he has with his ex-wife, worsened by the acceptance that he married someone he didn’t love in the first place. His mother is over zealous, and more intricate about detail and precision than Adam is himself, and this makes for some uneasy scenes as you feel the pain Adam feels at having grown up with such a stickler.

If you take away the comic elements, the film is no less enjoyable, it is however, quite sad and at times disturbing

At times Adam comes across spiteful, but it’s only because he feels that those that surround him are far too superficial about their priorities. Whereas he tries to save water, and use as few resources as possible, making use of the maximum, it bothers him that everyone treats the resources with wasteful intent. The sporadic flashing of images from Third-World countries, and their people dying of hunger while Adam explains how he tries not to waste water is quite stark, and makes a serious point, even if it is just in passing.

The film has two very distinct halves. The start and up the mid-point is a simply shot, analysis of a man living his life through routine and isolation. In the second half of the film, when his illusions of contentment begin to collapse, Day of the Wacko becomes an abstract piece, with Adam’s fears and his desires taking visual form, resulting in hallucinations, and almost schizophrenic behaviour. It’s capturing to watch, but also disturbing as you feel sympathy for Adam’s state of mind. He knows he’s not made the best of his life, he understands that there’s little he can do to change it, and he’s also aware that this is as good as it gets.

Marek Kondrat is brilliant as the aging and mentally fragile Adam, playing the part with a seriousness and reality that many could take lessons from. He convinces in his aspiration to want more, and he convinces in his acceptance that he can do no better, that the mistakes he made in the past have resulted in the misery and isolation he now feels.

The other notable performances, besides Adam who is the main focus, come from Piotr Machalica who plays a very creepy looking Psychoanalyst. In his darkened, sinister room he gives some pretty odd advice, and is rather vehement and resolute with what he will offer. Then of course there is the mother, played by Janina Traczykowna, who excels at being a busy body, and yet ignorant of what her son desires, far too busy in her own world on what is best for her son. They are both amusing, and yet equally sad.

For some I can understand how this film could seem mundane, but I think it’s intention to try to root reality with the character, and to essentially provide narration from a character who is as every bit as ordinary as you or I, and the fact that his thoughts are equally mundane provide an interesting charm. It’s not often you’re endeared to a character that is, quite frankly, rather dull in his ambition and aspirations.

There seems to be a purposeful intricacy with which the script and the character insists on creating this persona of a man who seems to substitute the lack of control in his life in general, to control in his apartment

Aside from the characters, it is a testament to the direction and writing that a topic and a character that is the complete polar opposite of contentment and happiness, is presented in such a negative light, and yet still manages to humour you. If this was a serious film, it would no doubt receive more praise as a gritty, down-to-Earth example of a man who’s growing old in Poland, without anything to look forward to.

If you take away the comic elements, the film is no less enjoyable, it is however, quite sad and at times disturbing. However, as there is an injection of subtle humour represented by a man who will cast vengeance upon all those little frustrations that you have in life, such as the people who just keep chattering in a shop and seem to eager for their own purchase, hurrying you to you finish your own purchase. It is both obvious, and yet subtle, but the most striking thing is how the humour is rooted into reality, instead of being something unlikely.

Day of the Wacko is a unique film, it has great characterisation, the locales are grim and with little in the way of artificial lighting being used, a negative outlook on life but with intelligent and witty humour. The many outlandish characters are not as outlandish as they first appear, and often remind me of people I have met over the years. The direction, script and performances are mesmerising throughout in a film that truly deserves wider distribution than it has had.

Verdict: A wonderful and poignant film about the misery of loneliness, directed with intelligence and humour.