Jan Paweł (Bartlomiej Topa), the head of a noble family and owner of the smaller half of the village of Adamczycha, wants to be remembered as a great man in Polish history. "Modesty" is a word that is not present in his limited dictionary. While looking at the poor peasants, he feels grateful for being born into a wealthy family. Jan high-fives a man who is probably about to be beheaded and talks about dinner in front of hungry children. He enjoys exploiting workers for his benefit, but 1670 presents this oppressor as a comic halfwit. His incompetence is incredibly transparent for all to see. In one of the scenes in the series, Jan struggles to read a simple notice in front of the civilians, wasting their time and filling everyone with boredom. He is a foolish tyrant.
Jan, as well as other characters, breaks the fourth wall in the series. 1670, after all, begins (and ends) like a stage production (the curtains open to reveal Jan posing for a painting). This technique further elevates the lighthearted mood of 1670. The introductions, the confessions, and the eye-rolling reactions are all pleasing. Notice how a maid, at one point, looks exasperatedly at the camera before sneaking out of a dining room mere seconds after a man labels domestic workers as disposable creatures. What occurs immediately after her exit is so riotous that you can't help but admire the lunacy, with a lot of giggling. The humor in 1670 is clever, inventive, and funny. Take, for instance, the way the instructions are given to passengers during a boat ride or the answer to this riddle, "What starts with 'Wh' and keeps Poland running?"
Some of the jokes can only be described as crazy, like the one involving exorcism. Some contain erotic energy, like the one involving a severed finger and the one where two people secretly observe a couple doing sexual role-play. What's more, some of the jokes even come with consequences! There is an intervention where a man is encouraged to drink alcohol again as everybody believes he has stopped being entertaining. At the end of this episode, this man, under the influence of alcohol, burns something essential. The production design is also filled with imaginative touches. Observe the siren of an ambulance and that rectangular mobile-like device a character uses to see images.
Speaking of images, the frames are clean and brightly illuminated. The camera captures the action and the locations with a sense of vibrancy. And then, there is Martyna Byczkowska, who, with her smile, charges the series with charm and beauty. As Aniela, Jan's rebellious daughter, she wants to change the world through her ideas and progressive feminist vision. She doesn't want to be defined by "girly" stereotypes and makes it clear that she has no interest in pining for boys. Yet, she ends up falling - and pining - for Maciej (Kiryl Pietruczuk), the blacksmith's apprentice. But he belongs to a lower rank, so her romance is nothing but a form of rebellion. Initially, we get a glimpse of the sketches of some technologically advanced gadgets, though Aniela isn't ever seen working on them. Anyway, what can she achieve in her current situation? Her village clearly lacks scientific resources, which is why the most she can do is organize a march for equality.
Everything in 1670 feels trivial as well as crucial. The drama, the obstacles are produced and resolved without much exertion. It's all a big joke, but nothing is rendered irrelevant. Writer Jakub Ruzyllo unabashedly goes for low-hanging fruits. The tension between the two lovers is generated only because they refuse to have a clear conversation with each other. Aniela's suitor, a nobleman, is given cartoonish despicable attitudes so that THAT moment with two guns can serve as a satisfying finish for this character. 1670 doesn't reinvent the wheel. Instead, it spins it mirthfully. Directors Maciej Buchwald and Kordian Kadziela love their characters. The actors, too, share this sentiment. How, then, can we look at them with disgust? They are adorable buffoons. We enjoy spending time with them. This is a delicate dance of awkwardness and amusement, sex and love, heartbreak and optimism. 1670 is worth your attention.
Final Score- [9.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times