Subs

"Zmiennicy" is a grotesque comedy of absurdity and reality that masterfully blends slapstick, satire, and surrealism to expose the absurdities of life under communist rule in the People's Republic of Poland (PRL). The story follows Jacek Żytkiewicz, a taxi driver in Warsaw, and his mysterious new shift partner, Katarzyna Piórecka, who disguises herself as a man to get the job. The series is a comedy of the grotesque, filled with exaggerated characters, nonsensical bureaucracy, and surreal plot twists. It mocks the inefficiencies and contradictions of PRL institutions—from corrupt officials and inept police to bizarre workplace dynamics and social hypocrisy. Underneath the absurdity lies a thriller-like subplot: a drug trafficking operation smuggling heroin from Thailand to West Germany. This storyline, featuring shady sports officials, a Thai student, and a crooked firefighter, adds a layer of intrigue reminiscent of American crime dramas.

Cast

Mieczysław Hryniewicz

Jacek Żytkiewicz

Ewa Błaszczyk

Kasia Piórecka

Kazimierz Kaczor

Zenon Kuśmider

Irena Kwiatkowska

Maria Piórecka

Krystyna Kołodziejczyk

Helena Koniuszkowa

Bronisław Pawlik

Stanisław Lesiak

Piotr Pręgowski

Krashan Bhamaradżanga

Krzysztof Kowalewski

Tomasz Michalik

Adam Ferency

militiaman Borkowski

Marian Opania

Ceglarek