Subs— Contract Prices

Overview

"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.

Comedy

Current EpisodeSeason 1 • Episode 1Aired: 1987-10-1756 min

1. Contract Prices

Jacek and Mr. Stanisław take turns driving an old taxi, which the WPT management is soon planning to replace with a new one. Meanwhile, Krashan Bhamaradżanga, a student from Thailand studying in Warsaw, is having trouble with his creditors. At the airport, he meets President Kłusek, who gives him an address where he can find people willing to help. Elsewhere, firefighter Zenon Kuśmider is illegally selling gasoline to fuel stations—gasoline he bought from railway workers. He’s making a tidy profit from the scheme.