Without Anesthesia
7.3
A famous Polish journalist presents a problem for the powers-that-be when he displays his full political skill and knowledge on a television show featuring questions and answers on a world conference by a panel of journalists. His enemies take away his privileges when he is away. The shock of being "unwanted" parallels a deeper disappointment in his private life: his wife has an affair with a jealous young rival, and after 15 years of marriage and two daughters wants a divorce. She offers no explanations as he tries to untie these problems himself. All the moves he makes are the wrong ones. He takes on drinking heavily with students eager to attend his seminar after discovering the class has been canceled. The journalist, once suave and commanding, is reduced to silence.
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Cast
46 people
Zbigniew Zapasiewicz
Jerzy Michałowski
Known for
A Short Film About Killing
Blind Chance
Ewa Dałkowska
Ewa Michałowska
Known for
Body
The In-Laws
Andrzej Seweryn
Jacek Rościszewski
Known for
Schindler's List
The Mire
Krystyna Janda
Agata
Known for
Decalogue II
Man of Marble
Roman Wilhelmi
Broński
Known for
The War of the Worlds: Next Century
Four Tank-Men and a Dog
Emilia Krakowska
Wanda Jakowicz
Known for
E=mc²
Kazimierz Kaczor
Editor-in-chief
Known for
The Closed Circuit
Man of Marble
Magda Teresa Wójcik
Joanna Cichoń
Known for
Man of Marble
Jerzy Stuhr
Jerzy Porębowicz
Known for
Three Colors: White
Camera Buff
Iga Mayr
Anna Łukasik
Known for
The Devil
Aleksandra Jasieńska
Oleńka
Marta Salinger
Gabcia
Also in
The Gorgon Case
Andrzej Wajda Director · Agnieszka Holland Screenplay Edward Kłosiński Cinematographer
United States release February 19, 1982 · Produced in Poland, France · Original title Bez znieczulenia
Production
Zespół Filmowy "X"
Production
Poland · France
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Bez znieczulenia
Original language
Polish
Spoken on screen
Polish
Release dates
Poland · November 27, 1978
Theatrical
United States · February 19, 1982
Limited theatrical
United States
October 9, 1979 · Premiere · New York Film Festival
May 6, 1980 · Premiere · Seattle International Film Festival
Brazil
October 19, 2026 · Premiere · São Paulo International Film Festival (Restored Version)
France
May 12, 1979 · Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
October 17, 1979 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.