While Netflix’s latest Polish thriller, Justice, might be lacking in narrative complexity in its straightforward storytelling, it surely is not devoid of an interesting ensemble of characters. While it can be argued that the lead investigator duo are victims of trope-y characterization, the rest of the core cast, especially the ones considered to be people of interest, are more than mere characters who represent different aspects of the social condition of Poland in the 1990s. The movie does not aim to build suspense or heighten curiosities regarding the causality of the crime; rather, it offers multiple perspectives through the interactions among the characters while adapting a slow-paced narrative progression. If the makers would have wanted, they could have taken a more politically driven approach, the potential of which is easily noticeable throughout the script, and the characters could have served as perfect vessels for that. However, despite that not being the case, some of the key moments from the movie stay with the viewers, and characterization plays a vital role in that.Â
Tadeusz Gadacz, Played by Olaf Lubaszenko
Polish actor/director Olaf Lubaszenko had a prolific acting career that spans over four decades, and viewers might remember him from Schindler’s List, where he played the role of an Auschwitz guard. In Justice, Olaf portrays the character of Tadeusz Gadacz, a former Polish Communist Security Service agent. A hardboiled, workaholic, cynical investigator, Gadacz is a great judge of human character and possesses deductive skills that are sharp enough for the ones in power to ignore his troublesome past and bring him back to the force to solve the robbery/murder mystery. Gadacz has a basic, almost extremist binary perspective when it comes to criminals, as he refuses to acknowledge them as humans and isn’t averse to using whatever deplorable means necessary to bring them to justice. Gadacz’s personal life is in disarray; while serving the system tirelessly, he has forgotten to prioritize his family—becoming a failure as a son, husband, and father, but from the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to have realized his mistakes anyway. As the lines between either side of the law blur, Gadacz remains an incorrigible force who justifies most heinous actions of his with the excuse of being on the right side. He’d rather stick to his twisted principles than to address the problems on a deeper level, and such foot soldiers are an asset for any oppressive, manipulative government. Formerly excommunicated by the state following the fall of communism, Gadacz returned to the force solely to relive his glory days—the badge, prestige, honor—the entire shindig. After successfully solving the case, he gets the chance to live a civilian life, less prejudiced than earlier, but nothing really changes for him at the end. There might be some hope for Gadacz after all, as he is seen calling his family at the final moments of the movie—perhaps in the final stage of his life he will be able to set his priorities right at last.Â
Kacper Surmiak, played by Jedrzej Hycnar
Actor Jedrzej Hycnar’s brilliant portrayal of Kacper Surmiak is one of the highlights of the movie. Surmiak was a child prodigy, as it was revealed by one of his fellow villagers, but the existing system failed him, like it did with numerous downtrodden people of his status—and he never fulfilled his potential. Growing up in a troubling time, Surmiak had adopted a problematic mindset leading to his belief in controlling others and easily acclimatization with violence. After losing both his parents, the only family Surmiak had was his sister, Ewa, and as she was taken under foster care, his gradual mental degradation started rapidly. Surmiak had seen his mother take her own life after getting plagued by loan sharks, so it is understandable that money is the only criteria of having a better life from his point of view. With the dwindling economic condition of the nation making it difficult to earn an honest living, Surmiak needed a lot of money to regain his sister’s custody, or so he thought was how things apparently work. Hell bent on getting custody of his sister, Surmiak committed a series of despicable acts—in his mind, everything was justified if it meant he would be able to reunite with his sister. However, the fact that he overlooked in all this was that he himself was the problematic presence his sister needed to stay away from to lead a good life. Before dying a horrible death, Surmiak at least got a sense of closure by visiting his sister for one last time, knowing she will probably lead a better life than what he could have offered her.
Aleksandra Janicka Played by Wiktoria Gorodecka
The greenhorn police officer, Aleksandra Janicka, is played by actor Wiktoria Gorodecka, whom viewers might recognize from her role as Olga Bitner in the Polish political drama Doppelganger The Double. In Justice, Aleksandra’s role mimics that of a typical newbie second fiddle in crime thrillers who learns the ropes from a mentor-like figure—in this case, from Gadacz. Aleksandra’s conflicted state of mind is perceptible when she has to simultaneously balance the opposing worldviews of her and Gadacz’s, dig up Gadacz’s troubling history as a brutal manhunter, and at the same time learn from the person she is supposed to keep tabs on. Like Gadacz, Aleksandra’s personal life has turned miserable as well, thanks to the pressure of her career, and despite that, she barely receives the respect from her colleagues she so deserves. At the end, Aleksandra receives certain recognition after successful completion of the investigation, but she is not the bright-eyed rookie anymore who will be swayed by the decorative accolades any longer. Aleksandra’s arc could have been shaped up a little better, because after a certain point she almost vanishes from the narrative until the very end.Â