Success Is the Best Revenge

Success Is the Best Revenge

91 mins | Drama | May 26, 1984

Alex Rodak (Michael York) is a Polish director in exile in London with his family, which includes an older teenage son Adam (Michael Lyndon) who is struggling with an identity crisis, his wife (Joanna Szerzerbic), and another son. Rodak is in the throes of putting together a major show about Poland and the politics of exile at a West End theater. His single-minded determination to succeed causes him to take advantage of others, and because of his need for backing, he turns to a low-life businessman (John Hurt) to bail him out. His wife is anything but happy about his behavior and dislikes this last decision even more. This is an interesting study of how a father and son become alienated in a conflict between cultural identity and its exploitation.

Success Is the Best Revenge

91 mins | Drama | May 26, 1984

Success Is the Best Revenge
Alex Rodak (Michael York) is a Polish director in exile in London with his family, which includes an older teenage son Adam (Michael Lyndon) who is struggling with an identity crisis, his wife (Joanna Szerzerbic), and another son. Rodak is in the throes of putting together a major show about Poland and the politics of exile at a West End theater. His single-minded determination to succeed causes him to take advantage of others, and because of his need for backing, he turns to a low-life businessman (John Hurt) to bail him out. His wife is anything but happy about his behavior and dislikes this last decision even more. This is an interesting study of how a father and son become alienated in a conflict between cultural identity and its exploitation.
IMDb rating 5.8
Producers
Original title Success Is the Best Revenge
Directors Jerzy Skolimowski
Writers Barbara Elster, Harriet Pacaud, Michal Skolimowski, Michel Ciment, Jerzy Skolimowski

Cast

Michael York

as Alex Rodak

John Hurt

as Dino Montecurva

Anouk Aimée

as Monique des Fontaines

Michel Piccoli

as French Official

Michal Skolimowski

as Adam Rodak

Józef Skolimowski

as Tony Rodak

Jane Asher

as Bank Manager

Joanna Szczerbic

as Alicia Rodak

Tristram Jellinek

as Second inspector

Hilary Drake

as Stage Manager

Archie Pool

as Casius Banghali

Bill Monks

as First grip

Michael Sarne

as Video store attendant

Ralph Nossek

as Magistrate

Ric Young

as Chinese Waiter

Malcolm Sinclair

as Assistant Stage Manager