A woman disguised as a man, a taxi full of secrets, and communism's absurdity on full display.
55 minSeason 1 • Episode 6
LatestThe so-called “special care press” is a weekly magazine that President Klusek’s associates buy in bulk. Hidden inside the newspaper bundles are drugs, which they smuggle to Germany for President Gonschorek. Delighted that the latest shipment arrived safely, Klusek spends the evening with a prostitute named Mariola—only to be completely robbed by her and left unable to pay Kasia for the taxi fare. Meanwhile, Kasia drives a young married couple who urgently need to make purchases to use up their newlywed credit. But with no washing machines, refrigerators, or vacuum cleaners available in stores, the desperate couple ends up buying a coffee set for fifty people
"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.
Acting
Ewa Błaszczyk's physical comedy as a man is *chef's kiss*.
Writing
Satire so sharp it somehow got past communist censors.
Production
Warsaw PRL recreated with loving, grotesque detail.
Mieczysław Hryniewicz
Jacek Żytkiewicz
Ewa Błaszczyk
Kasia Piórecka
Kazimierz Kaczor
Zenon Kuśmider
Irena Kwiatkowska
Maria Piórecka
Bronisław Pawlik
Stanisław Lesiak
Piotr Pręgowski
Krashan Bhamaradżanga
Krzysztof Kowalewski
Tomasz Michalik
Adam Ferency
militiaman Borkowski
Marian Opania
Ceglarek
Zdzisław Wardejn
Waldemar Barewicz
Janusz Rewiński
Zdzisław Mroczkowski
Artur Barciś
Wiesio Ceglarek
Marek Siudym
Stefan Parzydlak
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
One of the last great PRL satires, airing just as the communist era was collapsing—its jokes landed differently in 1987 vs. 1989.
Creator Stanisław Bareja was already a PRL satire legend; this was his swan song before his sudden death during production of episode 7.
PL
