NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Second Run Blu-ray (September 2023): Second Run have transferred Ryszard Bugajski's Interrogation to Blu-ray. It is cited as "Interrogation (Przesłuchanie, 1982) presented complete and uncut from an HD transfer of the new 2K restoration of the film produced by WFDiF, Poland." we reviewed Second Run's DVD of the film in 2005, HERE. This 1080P is a wonderful upgrade. The HD presentation is, mostly brighter, and is also more detailed, has superior contrast, the SD rendering flesh tones lose their orange hue and appear more accurate - cooler - and there is slightly more information in the 1.37:1 frame. It's a highly pleasing improvement. Actually quite a revelation. 

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Second Run use a linear PCM dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original Polish language. Interrogation has violence; beatings, slaps, water torture, suicide attempts etc. that, if they required any bass response, come through with mild depth. The music is credited to Danuta Zankowska (worked in the sound department for Agnieszka Holland's Provincial Actors - NOTE: Holland plays cell narc 'Communist Witkowska' in Interrogation, Antoni Krauze's The Weather Forecast etc.). In short, the audio is without egregious flaw and matches the strong video via the lossless transfer. Second Run offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Second Run Blu-ray offers a 1/2 hour video of Ryszard Bugajski on ‘Interrogation’. It is an in-depth interview with the director in which he discusses the film’s contextual history, its production, the controversy surrounding its release and its eventual withdrawal and banning by Polish authorities. It was fascinating to hear the struggle for freedom of expression. Second Run's package includes a 40-page booklet with writing on the film by Michael Szporer and the complete transcript of the 1982 hearing before the so-called ‘co-laudation commission’ ahead of the film’s suppression.

The production and release history of Ryszard Bugajski's Interrogation is a story we have sadly seen too many times - impactful and honest political statements in cinema that challenge the ruling authorities unjustly risk censorship or outright bans. An indictment of the Stalinist pro-Soviet Polish regime of the 1950s, Interrogation got under the skin of General Jaruzelski who coincidentally had declared martial law adjacent to the film's completion. It was circulating via illegally taped VHS copies before being shown at Cannes as a world premiere years later. Krystyna Janda gives a tour de force performance playing singer Antonina (Tonia) Dziwisz who is subject to physical and psychological torture because of a case of mistaken identity resulting in her false imprisonment. Second Run gives us an uncut restoration on Blu-ray of a powerful film experience - a story that should always be told. Yes, Interrogation dramatically effected me more in this superior a/v and we give it our highest recommendation.

Gary Tooze