The dynamic empire of Netflix has a lot to offer every week. And while trying to cover all of it, I sometimes miss out on a few.
Take the example of Feedback, a new Polish thriller revolving around alcohol abuse.
Based on Jakub Zulczyk’s novel, the show made its debut on the platform just over a week ago, and despite being a bit late to the party, I’ve finally had the chance to delve into its five episodes, totaling over four hours.
Keep reading to find out what works and what doesn’t for the Polish show.
Feedback Synopsis
An alcoholic father must pull himself together to find his missing son whom he had met a night ago. Can he remember a secret he told him that may have led to his disappearance?
The show is directed by Leszek Dawid and stars Arkadiusz Jakubik (Marcin), Jakub Sierenberg (Piotr), Dominika Bednarczyk-Krzyzowska (Asia), Nel Kaczmarek (Ula), Ireneusz Czop, Malgorzata Hajewska-Krzysztofik, and others.
What Works for Feedback?
The concept might not be too alluring at first but the execution makes up for it soon enough. We have had many such ideas in the past, where hallucinations become part of the main narrative.
In Feedback, the protagonist’s son goes missing a day after meeting him at a cafe. But since he is an alcoholic, he doesn’t remember anything from their encounter.
In the rest of the story, as new characters come up, he spends most time recollecting what may have transpired on the fateful night.
This is backed up by mysterious plot lines. On paper, Feedback might not sound like a genius idea. But it’s the depth that elevates the series.
The portrayal of an alcoholic’s life, complete with its careless attitude and the pervasive sense of the world being against him, adds a compelling layer to Feedback.
The psychic behavioral dynamics are well addressed by the makers, for which the credit must go to the original author of the story, Jakub Zulczyk.
He has defined the primary character with contradictions, which is rare in the realm of fiction.
Moving on, Feedback’s screenplay is non-aggressive. It builds gradually along with the tale and doesn’t have any external impetus working in its favor.
The only extra thing is the dark ambiance of the series. Put together with an interesting telling of events, it furthers the screenplay to make it more satiable.
The emotions portrayed are authentic, providing a genuine understanding of the characters’ motivations.
It’s essential to acknowledge that Feedback might not achieve chartbuster status on Netflix and could easily get lost in the sea of creations.
However, this Polish show is likely to find its audience, perhaps a few years down the road. The makers’ serious treatment of alcohol abuse deserves recognition and could stand the test of time.
How are the Performances?
Arkadiusz Jakubik is the life of the series. He plays Marcin and blows you with his fierce act. The phenomenal intensity coupled with vulnerability in his mien gives Feedback a much-needed endorsement.
He makes the series watchable and justifies himself in the lead role with an effortless portrayal.
Jakub Sierenberg as Piotr puts all his abilities into making his character stand out. In a nuanced performance, he finds the strength to attract people.
Jakub’s understated depiction creates a stealthy base for Feedback, which the show exploits later on.
Dominika Bednarczyk-Krzyzowska plays Asia in the show. She is restrained and calm.
Her expressions have the required quality even though their quantification would disappoint you.
The actress aces the two layers she is allotted and impresses you as a withheld mother.
What Doesn’t Work for Feedback?
Some people might have issues with the show’s pacing, which diminishes for a while when the story is moving on to the next stage.
But that’s not as annoying as the irritating lack of logical ignorance in the series. The whole mystery could have been solved by simply checking the CCTVs installed inside the metro stations.
I don’t understand why would the makers turn a blind eye to such a significant loophole in the narrative.
Either they should have added a rider in the plot itself or created some sort of block. This one factor simply took all the good things away, unfortunately.
Never do you see the cops checking the CCTV footage of any place.
Stream or Skip?
If you can ignore the one pivotal downside, Feedback has a lot to offer. It treats alcohol abuse with conviction.
Leave a Reply