Wielki Szu / Big Shar (DVD) 1982 Jan Nowicki POLSKI POLISH

Jan Nowicki, long-time star of the Polish cinema, stars in the title role as an aging card shark who gets back in the game. In Lutyn, he catches the attention of Jurek, who tries to beat Big Shar with marked cards. After Big Shar wins anyway, he agrees to teach Jurek his tricks. The pair begin an unlikely partnership, in which they con locals into playing in rigged games.More than just a caper film, BIG SHAR features a cast of veteran actors who represent three generations of Polish screen acting. Nowicki, who launched his career in Popioly with director Andrzej Wajda, gives a magnificent performance as the title character; Leon Niemczyck, who began his career in the silent era, plays Stefan; and Andrzej Pieczynski, new to the big screen when BIG SHAR was released, costars as Jurek.