Moonlighting **** (1982, Jeremy Irons, Eugene Lipinski, Jirí Stanislav) – Classic Movie Review 9725

Writer-director Jerzy Skolimowski’s 1982 British drama Moonlighting is a fascinating allegorical piece about deceit and theft, with a sterling performance by Jeremy Irons as contractor Nowak, the leader of a small band of Polish workers illegally in London to restore a posh house.

Skolimowski’s screenplay was torn from the headlines: Poland’s 1981 declaration of martial law is a plot point, and, as Irons is the only one of the band who speaks English, he keeps them from knowing about the banning of Solidarity.

Moonlighting is a small, fresh, sharp film, with an urgency and a dark sense of humour, and no sense of strain in making its points.

Also in the cast are Eugene Lipinski, Jirí Stanislav, Eugeniusz Haczkiewicz, Dorothy Zienciowska, Edward Arthur, Denis Holmes, Renu Setna, David Calder, Judy Gridley, Christopher Logue, David Squire and Jerzy Skolimowski (uncredited cameo as the Boss).

Moonlighting is directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, runs 97 minutes, is  made by Michael White Productions, Channel Four and National Film Development Fund, is released by Miracle Films (1982) (UK) and Universal Classics (1982) (US), is written by Jerzy Skolimowski (original screenplay), is shot by Tony Pierce-Roberts, is produced by Mark Shivas, Michael White and Jerzy Skolimowski, is scored by Stanley Myers and Hans Zimmer (electronic music), and is designed by Tony Woollard.

It marks the debut film scored by Hans Zimmer, who is billed as composer of electronic music.

Skolimowski’s house in Kensington, West London, was being renovated at the time, and most of the movie was made at the house. Three of the Polish builders in the film worked on Skolimowski’s house.

Irons speaks English-accented Polish and Polish-accented English.

The film won the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982. It won Best Film at the Evening Standard British Film Awards (1983).

It follows Skolimowski’s 1978 first British drama The Shout.

 © Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9725

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