Drogówka

As soon as this flops over into a type of Hitchcock, it loses its seal of originality. Because it begins to strum on well-known genre strings, but nobody knows for sure how they will sound. Not that it all goes to pot at that moment, but it does become rather more ordinary, while still remaining sufficiently unusual, uncompromising and dirty mirror holding to stop it becoming just another run-of-the-mill genre movie, immediately forgettable as the closing credits come up. (30.03.2014)

Wojciech Smarzowski is another excellent Polish director (Volhynia, Clergy) and Traffic Department is another solid notch in his career. The story focuses in detail on the work of traffic cops and it's clear that it's a thankless job (gangsters, hookers, politicians, blackmail, bribes). When a member of the force dies and another is charged, a rather gripping and suspenseful ride starts and it doesn't let up until the end. It’s suspenseful, well acted and brutal in places (the scene with the bitten off penis where blood spurts all over the car is one I won't soon forget), and the finale is shocking enough. Great film. 8/10. (27.02.2021)