While How I Fell in Love with a Gangster has a lot of gangster crime drama elements, its underlying source material is less than impressive. While Nikodem’s charisma isn’t entirely convincing, he is nonetheless passionate about the gangster life. The lack of uniqueness and originality means the movie suffers from an unbalanced mix of elements.
Tomasz Wlosok
In the novel How I Fell in Love With a Gangster, a mysterious woman narrates the life of the largest Polish gangster in history, Nikodem “Nikos” Skotarczak. As the story unfolds, the lines between fact and fiction blur. The author takes us on a journey through the past of this powerful man, whose crime-ridden past has become a source of inspiration for many.
The latest gangster drama to hit the Netflix streaming service is How I Fell in Love With a Gangster. Based on the true story of Polish gangster Nikos, this film is a satire on the world of organized crime. The script is by Krzysztof Gureczny and directed by Maciej Kawulski. The film stars Tomasz Wlosok as the gangster Nikodem Skotarczak. Other cast members include Agnieszka Grochowska, Krystyna Janda, and Klaudiusz Kaufmann. The film is available in Poland with English subtitles.
Antoni Krolikowski
How I Fell in Love With a Gangster is a 2022 Polish film directed by Maciej Kawulski and written by Krzysztof Gureczny. It stars Tomasz Wlosok, Aleks Kurdzielewicz, and Antoni Krolikowski. Watching this film is sure to make you love crime movies all over again.
The movie starts with a slick, young woman sitting in a bathtub. Her blood is mixed in the water, and the camera follows her as she struggles to get out of the bath. As she struggles to free herself of the water, a young male journalist begins to talk to a mysterious woman. It is this mysterious woman that earns the film its title, as she explains Nikos’s life to a young journalist.
Agnieszka Grochowska
In “How I Fell in Love With a Gangster,” a mysterious woman tells the true story of the biggest gangster in Polish history. As the story darkens, fact and fiction blur. But is there anything that can save a gangster’s life from the gripping truths woven into it? Or is the truth so bleak that it might destroy the entire world?
In this gripping tale of true love and twisted deception, a mysterious woman recounts the rise and fall of gangster Nikodem “Nikos” Skotarczak. The film has a rich, layered history that spans three decades and several European countries. While it’s a gripping plot, it also tries to blend little motivations into a broad sweep. The supporting cast, including Antoni Krolikowski and Agnieszka Grochowska, do a fine job, but are often rendered one-note characters whose sole purpose is to serve the male lead.
Nikos’ likable nature makes him irresistible to women. He’s married four times and looks after his family. His underworld career takes off, and he opens his own casino in 1979. He smuggles cars into Poland for black market parts. He also buys a ranch and a soccer team for his hometown. Despite his life, Nikos continues to stay connected with a prostitute named Milena. Despite his ruthlessness, Nikos still cares about Milena.
Maciej Kawulski
A mysterious woman narrates the true story of the greatest gangster in Polish history, Nikodem “Nikos” Skotarczak. As the story progresses, fact and fiction become increasingly confused. As the story gets darker, the truth about the gangster begins to blur. And the reader is left guessing at the end of the novel. But who is she and what is she hiding?
While How I Fell in Love With a Gangster has a strong core, the film’s pacing and selective editing leave it feeling unfocused, uninspired, and lacking in surprise and nuance. The strong performance by Tomasz Wlosok, as the titular gangster Nikos, carries the film’s tone and executes the role with aplomb. The film’s flaw is its clunky premise and lack of originality.
How I Fell in Love With a Gangster will air on Netflix on January 12 at 3.01 am EST. The movie will be available to stream on Netflix and can be viewed on the company’s website. It’s recommended that you watch it with English subtitles if you’re not a native English speaker. The movie is available to stream on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
