Based on a script by Andrzej Żuławski, this is a fascinating on-screen dialogue between father and son that combines nostalgia and fury, the sublime with humor, and old-school style with a sharp, penetrating look at Polish reality. The eponymous bird talk is the language used by those excluded from the aggressive majority: a history teacher tormented by children, a teacher of Polish studies fired from his job, a girl who cleans a banker’s villa, a florist with a club foot and a student with a fascination for cinema. Pushed to the margins by the extreme right, they defend themselves with irony, songs and quotes from the classics.
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Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
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Cast
45 people
Sebastian Fabijański
Marian
Known for
Pitbull: Tough Women
The Thaw
Eryk Kulm
Józef
Known for
Hold Tight
The Thaw
Jaśmina Polak
Ania
Known for
Hound's Hill
The Thaw
Katarzyna Chojnacka
Ala
Known for
All My Friends Are Dead
Sebastian Pawlak
Ludwik
Known for
1983
Lead Children
Andrzej Chyra
Lucjan
Known for
Katyn
Cracow Monsters
Żaneta Palica
Florist Maria
Also in
Matilda
Borys Szyc
Jakubiec
Known for
Into the Night
Cold War
Marta Żmuda-Trzebiatowska
Jakubcowa
Known for
Love, Wedding, Marriage
Och, Karol 2
Daniel Olbrychski
Gustaw
Known for
Salt
Decalogue III
Michał Grudziński
Known for
The Devil
The Third Part of the Night
Monika Niemczyk
Biology Teacher
Known for
The Devil
Xawery Żuławski Director · Andrzej Żuławski Screenplay Andrzej Korzyński Composer
Budget $840K · United States release May 25, 2020 · Produced in Poland
Box office
Budget
$840,000
Production
Metro Films
Production
MX35
Production
Orka
Production
Poland
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Mowa ptaków
Original language
Polish
Spoken on screen
Polish
Release dates
Poland · August 1, 2019
Premiere · New Horizons International Film Festival
Poland · September 27, 2019
Limited theatrical
United States · May 25, 2020
Digital
Poland
September 16, 2019 · Premiere · Gdynia Polish Film Festival
January 13, 2021 · Physical · DVD
Russia
October 3, 2020 · Premiere · Moscow International Film Festival
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Some details come from TheTVDB.