Review of Cztery noce z Anna

I recently saw this at the 2009 Palm Springs International Film Festival. After a long absence from film noted Polish filmmaker Jerzt Skolimowski was coaxed back into film-making to to write and direct a small feature film which became this film Four Nights with Anna. Skolimowski was at the screening and explained that a producer wanted him involved in a major film as a director but wanted him first to direct a smaller film to show that he was still a competent filmmaker. Co-written with his wife Eva Piaskowska this film is set in northern Poland in a bleak environment of a small northern town and is the story of Leon (Artur Steranko) who works for a hospital crematorium and lives on the hospital grounds with his ailing grandmother. Across from their house is the nurses quarters where Anna (Kinga Preis) lives. Leon is a timid bachelor with a menial job and a criminal history who is infatuated with Anna. This is a dark and dark-looking drama with little dialog and an almost Hitchcock-like suspense but not a heavy suspense prevailing throughout the film. It's a small film but skillfully executed and a wonderful performance by relative unknown Steranko in the lead role. I would give this a 7.0 out of 10.